Alan Johnson hints he won't go for PM ... but could lead Labour (video)
HULL West and Hessle MP Alan Johnson appears to have ruled himself out of becoming the next Prime Minister, the Mail can exclusively reveal.
The re-elected Labour MP has said the next occupant of 10 Downing Street has to be either Gordon Brown or David Cameron.
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Alan Johnson has not ruled out the possibility of becoming Labour leader.
But Mr Johnson, the Home Secretary, has again failed to declare himself out of any race to become the next leader of the Labour Party should Mr Brown concede defeat to the Tories and stand down from both roles.
Mr Johnson made his comments after voters failed to give any party an overall majority following the closest General Election for years.
The result is a hung Parliament, with the Tories having taken the most seats, Labour in second place and the Liberal Democrats third.
The Conservatives are some 20 seats short of taking outright control of the House of Commons.
Nick Clegg, the Lib Dem leader, has taken on the role of "kingmaker" and has begun negotiations over the prospect of forming a minority Government with either the Conservatives or Labour.
Yesterday both Mr Brown and Mr Cameron appealed to Mr Clegg to forge a coalition.
But Mr Johnson said the next Prime Minister has to be either Mr Brown or Mr Cameron.
He told the Mail: "The Prime Minister has to be either David Cameron or Gordon Brown.
"I don't see any scenario where the Liberal Democrats could demand that Gordon Brown stands down.
"They are not in a strong enough position to dictate who the leader should be.
"I think the public would scratch their heads after watching Brown, Cameron and Clegg in the TV debates and then got someone completely different as Prime Minister. That wouldn't work."
However, Mr Johnson failed to rule himself out of any future leadership bid should Mr Brown concede defeat and stand down as Prime Minister and party leader.
Mr Johnson said: "No-one is being asked to rule themselves in or out of any scenario in the future so I don't see why I should do that.
"It doesn't mean that I am angling or plotting".
See today's Mail to read more on Alan Johnson's reaction to the hung Parliament and what Labour should do, as well as further coverage – in words and pictures – to the General and Local Elections.
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by lib dem, hull
Sunday, May 09 2010, 10:58PM
“Alf most labour voters can only put a cross”
by Alf, Hull
Sunday, May 09 2010, 9:00PM
“Also I think poling stations should be open 24 hours and a chnage in the voting paper is essential - as well as putting a cross against the candidate people are voting for there should be two more columns - asking "are you voting FOR this candidate" and "are you voting for this candidate to stop another candidate from winning" - or words to that effect. What is imporatnt in a proper democracy is the reasons why people vote. Many people I think changed their minds at the last minute - they could not stomach a Tory Government but wanted Labour out so vote LibDem, not because they support the Lib Dem, but just to stop the Tories. Just a thought!”
by Alf, Hull
Sunday, May 09 2010, 8:50PM
“I think the result of the General Election sums up what we want pretty well. We don't want a Thatcherite Tory Government in but we want Labour (or at least "New Labour" out. If Labour hadn't defied us on the EU treaty, mass immigration, the bloody Human Rights Act, raiding pension funds and pandering to society's deadbeat and the irresponsible then I would have voted Labour, to protect essential services which make life civilised. I think most of us in Hull are natural Labour voters but this time I voted BNP - I accept they came nowhere but I cannot vote for Brown.
If Alan Johnson was to become Labour leader and he treat us with the respect we deserve I'd vote Labour again.”
by voter, hull
Sunday, May 09 2010, 6:03PM
“Chris what's more interesting after all the effort and falsehoods is it didn't go up either!!!”
by pete, north hull
Sunday, May 09 2010, 5:59PM
“Chris or is it Mr Randall you're dead right Clegg and the rest of you Libs are UTTER RUBBISH.You'd make a pact with anybody to get into power.Principles you have non!!!!! Oh I'm sorry you do have one principle self interest”
by Chris, Hull
Sunday, May 09 2010, 2:40PM
“Funny that isn't it the Lib Dem vote did not go down yet they have less seats. Strange that a leader said he would do business with the party with the most votes and the most seats funny he keeps his word, A STRANGE THING FOR ANY BRITISH POLTICIAN and he is a tory in yellow. WHAT UTTER RUBBISH!”
by here we go!!, hull
Sunday, May 09 2010, 11:46AM
“After all the media hype and even after all the Labour bashing the public don't want a Tory Govt.The Libs votes went down they lost M.P's and councillors and now because of Cleggs desire to get into Govt he is willing to sell his party down the river and give the country a Tory Govt.What a scumbag.He is just proving what a Lib stands for (SELF INTEREST )Clegg will get what he deserves !!!”
by Lib Dems are the, Tories in Yellow Clothing
Sunday, May 09 2010, 9:22AM
“Does any one think in reality the two main parties are going to agree to PR coming into force immediately? Listen to what Tebbit had to say yesterday. Labour and the Tories will use the Lib Dems to get over the first hurdle for about 6 months, then call another election within a year, hoping for a majority. The truth is that the Lib Dems are not the major force they believe they are. But on their record in all local governments they have run. IE- cuts, redundancies, selling off the assetss-- we all know they are more like the Conservatives. THE TRUTH IS THE”
by voter, hull
Sunday, May 09 2010, 12:17AM
“If I can't win first past the post then I want the rules changing but if I was a major player and kept getting into Govt then the rules are O.K.That's what the moronic Libs are all about.I've got the bat so we'll play by my rules complete bunch of phonies and nasty to boot!! It's nowt to do with fairness it's all about power.You lost we lost get over it.Labour lost control four years ago of the council but you don't hear them screaming for P.R.Maybe they should and stop the Lib Dem idiots flogging off the family silver”
by Ranter, Hull.
Saturday, May 08 2010, 11:04PM
“To throw away the opportunity of definate electoral reform is a slap in the face for true Lib Dems.
Sly Tories will promise everything, but deliver nothing to stop a fair and honest voting system.
Generations of Lib Dem supporters will be spinning in their grave if this treachery goes ahead.”