Chancellor Gordon Brown has thrown down the gauntlet to potential challengers for the Labour leadership, declaring: "I am happy for there to be a leadership contest. I think there should be." Speaking in depth for the first time about the turmoil which has convulsed Labour over the past week, Mr Brown dismissed as unfounded suggestions that he was trying to pressure Mr Blair into resigning as Prime Minister before he is ready.

He told the News of the World it was "absolute nonsense" to suggest that he was behind a round-robin letter calling on Tony Blair to quit.

And he rebuffed criticisms of his personality by former Home Secretary Charles Clarke, who used an interview in the Daily Telegraph to conduct a ferocious character assassination of the Chancellor.

Clarke said that many Cabinet ministers had been furious to see photographs of Mr Brown grinning broadly following Wednesday's crisis meeting with Blair in 10 Downing Street, describing it as "absolutely stupid" behaviour.

But the Chancellor told the News of the World that he had not been gloating over the outcome of his talks with the PM, but chuckling with an aide over an amusing story about his newborn son Fraser.

Dismissing Clarke's claim that he was an uncollegiate "control freak" who was unable to work with other people, Mr Brown insisted: "I am a team player."

Mr Brown rejected suggestions that he sees himself as Mr Blair's anointed successor and believes he should assume the leadership in an unopposed "coronation".

In an apparent challenge to Blairites touted as potential rivals for the party's top job, such as John Reid, Alan Johnson and David Miliband, Mr Brown said: "I am happy for there to be a leadership contest. I think there should be."

Despite the widespread belief that reaching 10 Downing Street is his top priority in life, Mr Brown said: "Being a dad is the best job in life, being a father comes first. Wherever our future lies, my priority is making the time to ensure my children don't, in any way, ever come second."

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