The crisis hitting Labour has escalated, with MPs engaging in a war of words over Gordon Brown's leadership.
Senior Labour backbencher Barry Sheerman has called for a secret ballot on Brown's continued leadership.
And Labour MP Graham Allen urged the prime minister to step down, telling Sky News that "the Labour Party now needs new leadership".
But fellow backbencher Geraldine Smith told Sky News she was "absolutely furious" at a "pathetic bunch of people" causing trouble for the party.
She insisted most MPs were still backing Brown, condemning the actions of a "small bunch of malcontents".
And schools minister Jim Knight said the prime minister "is the right person to lead the country now".
In a warning to backbench rebels, he said that a change of leader would require a swift general election, which polls suggest would result in a disaster for Labour.
Dods Parliamentary Communications Ltd