Geoff Hoon calls for Gordon Brown leadership ballot

Two ex-cabinet ministers are calling for a secret ballot on Gordon Brown's leadership.

Geoff Hoon and Patricia Hewitt have written to Labour MPs calling for the leadership issue to be sorted out "once and for all".

Mr Hoon said there were continuing questions over the leadership and suggested there should be a secret ballot of all Labour MPs.

He added that he had not spoken to any member of the Cabinet about a challenge.