HULL West and Hessle MP Alan Johnson has dismissed talk of a bid for the Labour leadership.
After leader Ed Miliband's conference speech, which has been labelled as shambolic, speculation is rife over a leadership challenge.
Many Labour backbench MPs fear the chances of their party getting into power at next year's general election are slipping.
A number have said having Mr Johnson, a former postman, at the helm could help put the party back on track.
But in an interview with the Sunday Times today, Mr Johnson categorically dispelled any leadership challenge.
He said: "Anybody who suggested to me - and no one has incidentally - that there should be a leadership challenge, I would say 'get a grip'."
He said being Prime Minister is a "god-awful job" and said he has told Ed Miliband "exactly how I feel about it".
Mr Johnson also said he "hated" his roles as shadow home secretary and shadow chancellor and said he should have "gone to the back benches" sooner.
But he admitted he hasn't ruled out a role in frontline politics once again if Labour do get back into power.
He said: "I keep teasing people with this.
"Having disgracefully decided to opt out of the heavy lifting of opposition, if the call suddenly came, I would say, 'That would be interesting'. And my colleagues would be seething about that on the front bench! I'm not ruling out anything."
