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Ahead of Labour confernence, Miliband moves to end leader talk

by Dave Keating | September 22, 2008 at 12:42 am

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Ahead of his all-important speech to the Labour Party Conference, UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown appears to be clamping down on loyalty within his cabinet. Although an editorial UK Foreign Secretary David Milliband wrote over the summer had sparked speculation that he was planning to challenge Brown for the leadership, he is now very publicly and resolutely denying such rumors.

Meanwhile, there have been reports today that the prime minister is planning a reshuffling of his cabinet, in which a loyalty litmus test will be used. The knives are out!

Foreign Secretary David Miliband has attempted to kill off speculation he is planning a Labour leadership bid.

The man most often named as a potential challenger to Gordon Brown told a fringe meeting at Labour's conference he did not want to see a contest.

And he urged the party to unite behind the prime minister.

He denied Labour was "disunited" and blamed the media for stirring up dissent but added the party had to be more honest about past mistakes.

At the meeting, hosted by BBC Radio 4's The World at One programme, Mr Miliband was invited to "kill off the speculation" surrounding him and confirm that he did not want to be Labour leader.