PM sacks envoy over leadership call

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Ms Ryan, a Labour vice chairman, said it was time for the the party's "direction and leadership" to be debated openly. She was among a number of usually-loyal MPs urging the party to issue leadership nomination forms ahead of its annual conference, which starts in Manchester next weekend.

Mr Brown was rocked on Friday night when those demands were led by a member of his own Government.

Siobhain McDonagh, who said she had never crossed the leadership in 11 years as an MP, was promptly replaced as an assistant whip when her involvement in the apparent plot became known.

A Downing Street spokesman confirmed that Ms Ryan had been "relieved of her duties" as the Prime Minister's special representative to Cyprus.

Labour's general secretary Ray Collins has rejected the MPs' call for nomination papers to be issued to all members of the parliamentary party.

In a letter to the MPs requesting the papers, he said he would not depart from the convention adopted since Labour came to power in 1997. He suggested that most MPs knew they could request the papers if they wanted them.

He wrote: "A leadership election when in Government can only be held if requested by a majority of party conference on a card vote. We can only hold such a card vote at conference as required under B2d.(ii) if we receive notification from at least 20% of members of the House of Commons detailing a nomination.

"As the party has followed this procedure for the last 11 years I am confident that most members of the Parliamentary Labour Party are fully aware of their special responsibilities under rule to trigger the process which has not required the issue of nominations forms.

"I have considered this matter carefully. I have reached the conclusion that I have a clear responsibility to ensure that the party follows the procedures adopted by all my predecessors in respect of leadership elections when in Government."