Rally round PM, Labour MPs urged

New Culture Secretary Ben Bradshaw backs Gordon Brown

Senior Labour MPs have urged colleagues to "rally round" Gordon Brown and unite after a tumultuous week for the party.

Ben Bradshaw, promoted to the cabinet in Friday's reshuffle, said MPs should "get the message" from constituents to throw their support behind Mr Brown.

Senior backbencher Tony Wright called on MPs to stop "the infighting".

The prime minister is waiting to see whether his reshuffle will quell unrest among MPs as Labour braces itself for Sunday's European election results.

'Stop infighting'

MPs who want a change of leadership are believed to be awaiting the outcome of these elections before deciding whether to move against Mr Brown after the party suffered heavy defeats in English council polls on Friday.

Labour lost control of its four remaining English country councils, with BBC projections putting its share of the national vote at a general election at a record low of 23%.

People are saying to us 'stop the infighting, stop the caballing, stop the organising against the leadership Tony Wright MP Tories in poll wins In full: Brown's new cabinet Flint's 'window dressing' attack

Mr Brown responded to the election drubbing and a string of ministerial resignations by vowing he would not "waver nor walk away" and would get on with the job.

While acknowledging the council results were "terrible", Mr Bradshaw, the new culture secretary, said Mr Brown was still the right man to lead Labour into the next election.

"I hope my Labour colleagues will now get the message from their Labour activists and supporters in their constituencies that they want people to rally round and unite and support the government in taking these very difficult decisions," he told the BBC.

Foreign Office minister Bill Rammell reiterated this message, saying Mr Brown had the backing of the "overwhelming majority" of Labour MPs.

And veteran Labour MP Tony Wright told BBC Radio 4's Today: "People are saying to us 'stop the infighting, stop the caballing, stop the organising against the leadership'."

He added that although Mr Brown might be a "clunky communicator" he was "a towering figure who has brought the world through the worst financial crisis for 60 years".

Sexism row

Colleagues have also been defending Mr Brown after departing Europe Minister Caroline Flint accused him of sexism.

In her resignation letter, Ms Flint said the prime minister had created a "two-tier" cabinet, with several of the women serving as "little more than female window dressing".

Loyalist backbencher Geraldine Smith said Ms Flint had "a bit of a strop" because she had not been offered the promotion she expected.

Ms Flint, the MP for Don Valley in South Yorkshire, had appeared on television a day earlier to back Mr Brown.

That was before James Purnell resigned as work and pensions secretary with a direct challenge to Mr Brown to step down.

While Geoff Hoon and John Hutton also walked out on their respective transport and defence jobs, they did not echo Mr Purnell's call.

Volatile mood

BBC political correspondent Ben Wright said Mr Brown had kept his would-be challengers "on side" but the pressure on him was still huge and Labour's mood was still volatile.

Speculation about Mr Brown's future continued as Labour MP Ian Gibson said he was standing down to force a by-election in Norwich North adding that the prime minister's days were "close to being numbered".

Former arts minister Mark Fisher joined those calling on Mr Brown to go while former cabinet minister Stephen Byers said: "On Monday Labour MPs will be considering a very important question - is Gordon Brown a winner or is Gordon Brown a loser?"

Mr Brown has seen off the ministerial revolt and it is now up to backbench Labour MPs to decide whether they accept that verdict or conclude that their weakened leader should be finished off. Nick Robinson's blog

For the Conservatives, shadow communities and local government secretary Caroline Spelman told BBC Radio 4's Today: "What people want is a General Election. They want a fresh start. They want a leader who can lead.

"He may have shuffled the pack yesterday but I think some of the cards are a little on the dog-eared side."

Liberal Democrats Home Affairs spokesman Chris Huhne said losing six cabinet ministers in three days had left the government in an "unbelievable shambles".

"We are getting no leadership from the government whatsoever," he said.

And, in a sign of the continuing febrile atmosphere Gordon Brown had to defend his expenses again after suggestions in the Daily Telegraph that he claimed for electricity bills and service charges on two properties between 2005 and 2007.

A Number 10 spokesman insisted Mr Brown had complied with the rules at all times, a fact backed up by the Commons authorities, but he had agreed to repay about £180 "for the avoidance of doubt".

* There will be a Newsnight special: Brown on the Brink on BBC Two at 1930 BST on Saturday