PM Brown heads off backbench revolt

Despite more catastrophic electoral results for Labour and yet another ministerial resignation, only a handful of critics broke ranks to call for the premier's departure at a crunch meeting of the parliamentary party.

Mr Brown attempted to defuse the mood among his MPs by admitting to "weaknesses", and promising a new approach and new policies.

He also delivered a stark warning that the party risked returning to the wilderness if it succumbed to "disunity" and kicked him out.

Ex-Home Secretary Charles Clarke, former ministers Tom Harris, Meg Munn and Fiona Mactaggart, and former Whip Siobhain McDonagh responded by telling the packed gathering in the Commons that Mr Brown had to go. Ex-Trade Secretary Stephen Byers also demanded his removal. But the rebels' hope that their cry for change would be taken up more widely was not realised.

The 95-minute showdown came after Labour racked up its worst electoral showing for nearly 100 years, finishing third in vote share behind the Tories and Ukip. There was also dismay that the far-right BNP gained two MEPs in the euro polls, largely as a result of the governing party's dramatic slump in support.

With all the results from 11 regions across the UK in, Labour managed just 15.8% of the popular vote to Ukip's 16.5%. The Tories topped the poll with 27.4% of the popular vote, the Liberal Democrats finished fourth with 13.8%. Despite victories in the North West and Yorkshire, the BNP had a smaller share of the vote than the Greens, with 6.2% to their 8.6%.

Mr Brown told MPs that he knew the situation was bad, but insisted he was the man to turn it around.

"I have my strengths and I have my weaknesses. I know there are some things I do well, some things not so well," he said. "I've learned that you need to keep learning all the time. You solve the problem not by walking away but by facing it and doing something about it."

The premier pledged to act in a "more collective way", and signalled policy shifts were coming. The Cabinet is expected to discuss concessions on part-privatisation of Royal Mail when it meets later on Tuesday, and an inquiry into the Iraq is also set to be announced soon.