A newly re-elected Labour MP has called on Gordon Brown to step down as the party's leader.
Bassetlaw MP John Mann said that Labour would only have influence in the outcome of the current negotiations over the future of the government if Mr Brown agrees to give up the leadership.
And he said that the Prime Minister cost Labour votes in last week's election from people who would otherwise have supported the party's programme.
Mr Mann's comments are the first overt Labour challenge to the Prime Minister's position since the party lost 91 seats and its Commons majority in Thursday's poll.
He said it was "extraordinary" that the Parliamentary Labour Party had not been convened to discuss the party's response to the emergency created by the inconclusive election result.
Mr Mann said: "Whatever happens in the next few days, Gordon Brown should not lead Labour into any future election and he should stand down before the next Labour Party Conference.
"Gordon Brown's continuation as the Party's leader rules out the credibility of a Lib/Lab pact that has to prioritise the modernisation and reform of the antiquated UK political systems, the continued stabilisation of the economy in partnership with the need to protect front line public sector jobs and services."
Mr Mann said that "literally thousands" of voters had told him during the election campaign that they would support him but it was not a vote for Mr Brown, while others said they would have voted for him if Labour had a different leader.
"On the doorstep, throughout the election campaign I found that there was a lot of support for Labour's approach on the economy, health and education, but there was little support for Gordon Brown to be Prime Minister," he said.
"Gordon Brown has had a good run and whilst he was an excellent Chancellor he has been seen as a poor Prime Minister who is out of touch and aloof. Labour lost votes because of this."
