Alan Johnson 'rules himself out of Labour leadership'

Labour's Alan Johnson has ruled himself out of the leadership and said he backs Ed Miliband, according to The Times.

The former home secretary is said to be favoured by many of his peers as the natural leader to take over due to his popularity with voters and unions.

But he said: "For the avoidance of any doubt, I have no intention of going back to frontline politics. I support Ed Miliband."

With calls for Miliband to step down as leader, rumours are swirling about who could be a contender to lead the party in the event.

Former health secretary Andy Burnham and shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper have been named.

While shadow business secretary Chuka Umunna would become Labour's first black leader if he was elected.

Support for Labour appears to be fading in what were once seen as the party's northern heartlands, ITV News Correspondent Martin Geissler reports.

Geissler visited Tyneside, where he found few members of the public had positive things to say about Ed Miliband - if they knew who he was.

Shadow Chancellor Ed Balls had told ITV News the Labour Party is "absolutely united" despite reports of dissatisfaction with the performance of leader Ed Miliband.

He said claims that Labour MPs wanted to see Miliband removed were "nonsense" and added: "If you want to know the party in disarray, it's the party which is losing MPs to Ukip - that's not Labour, it's the Conservative Party."

Ed Miliband has published a lengthy Facebook post pledging that Labour will focus on "taking our case to the people" amid questions over his leadership.

The party's leader said Labour is "within months of an election we can win", adding: "I relish the fight for the future."

"We have six months to go out and show the difference Labour’s plan will make," he wrote.

"Together, that is what we will do. Join us in that fight."

Diane Abbott has become the latest Labour voice to join the resounding support being shown on all fronts from the Labour party today.

Mr Miliband refuted claims there was a 'plot' to replace him.

• Watch: Ken Livingstone 'confident' over Ed Miliband leadership
• Watch: Andy Burnham dismisses pact claim as 'fiction'
• Read more: Umunna 'Labour are in touching distance of power'

Shadow cabinet minister Andy Burnham has dismissed a claim that he was involved in secret talks about what to do if Ed Miliband quits as Labour leader as "complete and pure fiction".

Speaking to ITV News, Mr Burnham said: "We're getting on with the job, we are a united team, united behind Ed, and we're working behind this Labour government".

Ed Miliband focuses on making change, former London Mayor Ken Livingstone told ITV News, amid claims of a plot to remove the Labour leader.

Mr Livingstone said: "I worked closely with him for two years as Labour leader and as mayoral candidate, and I find him very refreshing".

Senior Labour figures have rallied round Ed Miliband amid reports that backbench MPs want him removed as leader.

Writing on the Politics Home website, shadow business secretary Chuka Umunna said the rumblings were "nonsense which some in the Westminster bubble want to distract us with".

The Labour Party is failing to deliver a sense of direction for the public to follow, a former Cabinet member told ITV News.

Lord Soley, who as an MP chaired the Labour Party, said: "The problem is lack of vision and direction (...) but it's not the first time a political party has had that problem".

• Read: Nearly half think Labour would do better without Miliband

Ed Miliband's ratings have worsened in the last few weeks, the President of the YouGov polling organisation told ITV News.

Peter Kellner said: "Only about 20 per cent think he is up to the job as prime minister".

• Read: Nearly half think Labour would do better without Miliband