AN EAST Lancashire MP has called on Gordon Brown to stand down as prime minister.

Pendle MP Gordon Prentice said that it was in the Labour Party’s best interests for Mr Brown to resign so a replacement can be in place before the next General Election.

Mr Prentice said: “I hope Gordon reflects on things during August and accepts that it is in the Party’s best interests, and perhaps his own, for him to stand down.

“It was an absolute tragedy there was no leadership election when Tony Blair resigned. The Conservatives and Liberal Democrats managed to have elections for their leaders and the sky didn’t fall in.

“I didn’t nominate Gordon for Leader specifically because I wanted to see the candidates tested in a leadership election campaign. That didn’t happen.”

Mr Prentice attended a constituency management committee meeting in Colne on Friday, which took place after Labour’s defeat in the Glasgow East by-election, where he first made his views known.

He said: “A Prime Minister needs a different set of skills from a Chancellor of the Exchequer. A Prime Minister must be able to communicate, persuade and enthuse. If not, the message is lost.”

Other East Lancashire MPs have already publicly backed Mr Brown to continue as prime minister.

Blackburn MP Jack Straw said that Mr Brown was the ‘right man’ to lead Labour and Burnley MP Kitty Ussher said she had ‘full confidence’ in the prime minister.

Darwen and Rossendale MP Janet Anderson and Hyndburn MP Greg Pope were both unavailable for comment.

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