Unsteady Brown enters election week
Local elections present a big challenge for Gordon Brown
Monday, 28, Apr 2008 12:00
Gordon Brown is beginning four days of campaigning ahead of Thursday's local elections, in an effort to reverse the political momentum against him.
The prime minister was forced into embarrassing concessions to Labour rebels over income tax changes last week, prompting Blairite Lord Levy to voice his concerns over the weekend.
An ICM/Telegraph poll published yesterday gave the Conservatives a ten-point lead, with support for Labour down three per cent. The Tories were down four per cent but, ahead of attacks by David Cameron on Mr Brown's anti-poverty record, 63 per cent said the government had done too little to close the gap between rich and poor.
Yesterday foreign secretary David Miliband jumped to defend the prime minister.
Appearing on BBC1's Andrew Marr Show on Sunday, he called on Labour to "get back to basics" in terms of their convictions, self-confidence and unity.
"I think this is a test of character really as well as a test of policy for the Labour party and we know what is fatal, if we fail to defend the leader, if we lose sight of our convictions and we don't follow through on what we started," he said.
His comments were echoed by EU trade commissioner Peter Mandelson, who told Sky News yesterday that Labour needed to present itself in a straightforward manner.
"In presenting yourself in that direct and common sense way, focusing on the real mainstream concerns of the British people, being sure of yourself and what you stand for and presenting yourself in an honest and direct way, that's what the party needs to do to keep doing," he said.
Today Mr Brown's focus will be on neighbourhood policing, a major issue both in the London mayoral election and the wider upcoming polls across the country.
He will visit a community centre in Bolton where youth workers have been setting up activities for local youngsters.
Writing about the centre in the Sunday Mirror yesterday, the prime minister claimed only Labour would make such initiatives possible.
"None of this would happen without a Labour government and Labour councils making the investment in neighbourhood police teams and youth services," he wrote.
"None of this will happen in Tory and Liberal councils across the country if they are allowed to continue cutting services and wasting money.
"That is why I urge everyone to get out next Thursday and vote for the needs of local people. That means a vote for Labour."