More fallout from the plot – 8 in the morning, January 8th

By Alex Smith / @alexsmith1982

* GORDON BROWN IS READY TO HAND OUT KEY ELECTION ROLES, including to Peter Mandelson, after gaining confidence that the grassroots of the party is behind him by monitoring Twitter.

* SPEAKING PUBLICLY FOR THE FIRST TIME, the PM said the plot was a “storm in a teacup” that took up very little of his time: “I think it’s one of these sidelines in this time when people are far more worried about, as they should be, about what we are doing to deal with the weather and to make sure that people are safe and secure.”

* WHAT DID BROWN HAVE TO GIVE UP to secure his position? The Times has some answers.

* THE PM HAS PROMISED TO “REIN IN ED BALLS”, says the Guardian.

* HARRIET HARMAN “ENCOURAGED THE COUP”, according to the Telegraph.

* THE EXPENSES WATCHDOG has denied that new reforms are diluted versions of Sir Christopher Kelly’s.

* RURAL AREAS WILL NOT MISS OUT on the broadband revolution, says the PM.

* DAVID CAMERON ADMITS HE MESSED UP on his marriage proposals.