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From The Times

May 1, 2008

Gordon Brown set to fight for his future after poll

Philip Webster, Political Editor

Graphic: the election battlegrounds

Gordon Brown faces the first electoral test of his premiership today, with Labour chiefs braced for the party’s worst showing at the polls in a generation.

As voting begins across the country, ministers fear the loss of London and scores of council seats as the public casts the first ballots since Mr Brown was anointed Prime Minister and ducked an early general election.

Labour strategists fear that the party could record its lowest share of the vote in local elections since the 1970s, falling as low as 25 per cent and finishing third behind the Tories and Liberal Democrats - a humiliation for Mr Brown.

The Conservatives expect to secure more than 40 per cent, with strong gains in northern England.

The Prime Minister is already planning an aggressive “relaunch” campaign, with new policies, a contrite and listening tone and a fresh attempt to expose divisions with the Conservatives, party sources said. His closest advisers were drawing up plans last night to limit the damage.

In a dramatic first step, Mr Brown has given notice that he will take defeat rather than back down next month over his plan to hold terrorist suspects for up to 42 days. He also began attempts to heal his relations with business by promising the Institute of Directors further cuts in corporation tax when he could afford it. And in an angry Commons clash he called David Cameron a “shallow salesman”.

Government sources say there will be no reshuffle. “We will hit back with substance, not a rearrangement of the furniture,” one said.

Mr Brown is planning to unveil a draft Queen’s Speech at the end of this month to show that he is not running out of steam. It is expected to include measures on welfare, education reforms and involving the community in tackling crime.

In a related development Labour chiefs rushed forward the writ for the Crewe and Nantwich by-election, caused by the death of Gwyneth Dunwoody, to be held on May 22. They were accused of acting with “indecent haste” before her funeral. Opposition parties said that Labour was trying to deny them time to organise their campaigns.

The Times has been told that Mr Brown will press ahead with the 42-day plan for holding terrorist suspects even if it means that he is defeated. Tony Blair was defeated when he tried to introduce a 90-day detention plan.

In the Commons, Mr Brown categorically refused Mr Cameron’s call for him to follow his climbdown on the 10p tax rate with another over 42 days. He said: “No. We are going ahead with our proposal.” He added that the Conservatives would be making a mistake if they opposed it.

Mr Brown’s remarks left him no room for manoeuvre, and sources close to him confirmed later that he was determined to press ahead with a move that he believed was backed strongly by the public. Many Labour MPs will vote against the plan, but Mr Brown will blame Conservative and Liberal Democrat opposition if he fails to get it through the Commons.

The Prime Minister is facing poll setbacks today – including between 150 and 200 council seats and the possible loss of London to Boris Johnson – even though the main parties say that their internal polling shows the London mayoral vote to be tight.

Aides to Mr Brown accepted that whatever he did after the elections would be interpreted as a “relaunch”, although he would not use that word.

The Prime Minister has heeded advisers who have urged him to own up to errors and show that he is willing to listen. Yesterday, on the 10p income tax rate, he told the BBC: “We made two mistakes. We didn’t cover as well as we should that group of low-paid workers who don’t get the working tax credits and we weren’t able to help the 60 to 64-year-olds who didn’t get the pensioner’s tax allowance.”

He said that he was listening and learning as Prime Minister. He added: “The problem was quite specific . . . We had dealt with this very, very major tax reform. We hadn’t done enough for these two smaller groups.”

Asked whether a change in government was necessary from time to time, Mr Brown replied: “I think governments need to refresh themselves.”

He added that he was making the “right long-term decisions”.

The Conservatives, who are expecting to secure more than 40 per cent of today’s vote for more than 4,000 seats on 139 councils, are insisting that because Labour did poorly in the corresponding elections four years ago the scope for big Tory gains in terms of seats is limited.

What has happened to England? Brown gives away your sovereignty to the EU dictators and nary a word or protest from the England people. You allow unrestricted immigration of Muslims, who are intent on imposing their laws and nary a protest. What happened to the English spirit that fought Hitler.

Michael , Sarasota, FL, USA

Does he understand what "a contrite and listening tone" means? Hardly consistent with his categoric refusal to listen to labour backbenchers on the 42 days detention issue: “No. We are going ahead with our proposal.”
Old leopars don't - or can't - change their spots!

David, London, UK

How can anyone possibly trust anything Gordon Brown has to say. In his last "tax cutting" budget as chancellor he made nearly 5 million people worse off by abolishing the 10p tax band. For the rest who's average gain was approx £130.00 they will have that wiped out with increased car tax.

Dave, Sale, Cheshire

So congratulations Cameron this is as good as it will ever get for you and all your clueless old Etonian pals. Nobody cares about a few councillors and nobody misses the Tories 15% interest rates, 3 million unemployed, and massive hospital waiting lists. Go back to the Bullingdon Club old chum.

ricky, coventry, uk

Gordon Brown has lost the trust and faith of the electorate through his repeatedly going back on his promises (EU etc). This is why nothing he says or does will convince a once bitten-twice shy electorate.
Trouble is he thinks he can put a sticking plaster over a gaping wound & noone will notice!

PK, London,

roy, in what sense is brown intellectually the best chancellor of the last 40 years? in the same sense that he was the most prudent? the strength of the economy was never down to him and he failed to plan for the future, too busy feuding, plotting and seething. why are we stuck with him?

jem, london, uk

Neil, London, UK

Brown's biggest mistake is the economy it's just not as noticeable yet as immigration and the EU. And the good thing about it is, that when it does blow, and it will, you can't be called a racist or a little-Englander!

Rob, Isle of Wight,

Quote(The tragedy is that democracy does not exist.

Stephen Felce, Enfield, UK)

In my opinion the tragedy is that we desire to be handed Services from our Governments, but then complain when these Governments have to overtax us to pay for those Services.

stuart, Zavalla, USA

Why would anyone vote for Labour? For people with socialist views they offer nothing. For those on low incomes they have increased taxes and don't care about inflation. For anyone who cares about efficiency, they have wasted billions. Oh a Gordon's in charge! Who are they good for?

CJ, Coventry,

I don't want to hear anyone who voted for Red Ken complaining about street crime in London. This is your chance to oust a man who has cursed our city with an avalanche of violent street crime and hoodie yobs travelling free on buses. Zero tolerance worked in NYC and it will work here. BACK BORIS!

Robert, London,

Every few years we get the choice of voting merely for one autocracy or another. They sell us down the river, are incompetent, lie and cheat to get there, then to stay there. And they privilege themselves shamelessly out of the tax payers pockets.

The tragedy is that democracy does not exist.

Stephen Felce, Enfield, UK

Brown can fight and spin as much as he likes,the public have seen through the "New Labour" sham and politics in general! It's time for a reappraisal of our political system and hopefully this will come about if those voting today give all three mainstream parties a bloody nose. We crave democracy!

R.B., Leicester,

Here we go again, same old drivel and pandering to Big Business. How about a U-Turn on the increases to Small Business Corporation Tax. Oh I forgot, Gordon doesn't like Small Businesses so nothing new there then.

Rab, Glasgow,

Mr. Times Cartoonist, please, we need a drawing of the "launch"

I see a mighty "clunking" hulk sliding down the jetty into a sea covered in icebergs marked "EU vote", "42 Days vote", "Finance Bill", "Emmissions Bill" etc, with perhaps Helen Mirren calling out "I name this ship brown"

Julian the Wonderhorse, London,

I wonder if Labour will follow the example of Mr Mugabe and try to rig the vote in some places... in this case through the postal voting system. The government have refused to tighten up this system sufficiently to prevent fraud and we know why!

Andrew Brown, derby, UK

We can only hope that democracy will succeed in evicting a PM who just doesn't get the hint. If there had been any quality in the current Labour government, he would already be under direct challenge. They must all go. If you have the opportunity, vote today.

tim holden, budleigh salterton,

Browns biggest mistakes have been immigration and the EU. The same goes for the Tories and Lib Dem's who are just as guilty of this. Then there is the media who continually vilify the British National Party (BNP) who are the only party with the guts to speak out on these, the most important issues.

Neil, london, UK

Brown is again being advised wrongly. He should give in on the 42 day rule and also ensure that his minions do their hoemwork before coming up with new initiatives like the 10p tax eliminations. The fact is that most people are not worried about the terrorism aspect, but the economy and fuel costs.

Hamad Lone, London, England

Get out Gordon, you couldn't care less for the young, single and childless who are trying to build a decent life and career before they commit to a partner and have children. Labour is no longer the party of the working man - it's the party of the benefit scrounger.

Angharad, Cardiff,

He keeps (Gordon Brown) going on about long term decisions.
Problem is what about short term decisions that effect me and my family NOW.
The Labour Party are a waste of time. They have done nothing for me, my family or the indigenous people of these isles.

Spence, London, England

Future! What future?

Solis sacerdotibus, Edinburgh,

I'm afraid Mr Brown's biggest problem is that he is unelected. Everyone thinks they have the right to have a pop at im as he has no mandate

Tim, Sherborne, Dorset

But they all still hate Maggie T in the north, so they'll keep on voting for this vindictive lot.

CA, Manchester, UK

The abolition of the 10p band of tax was annonced in 2007. Now MPs are saying they didn't realise until now how it would affect those on lower incomes with no children. Give me a break! It took me about 15 seconds from when it was announced to realise the implications to the lower paid.

Mark, Murcia, Spain

There was no real apology from Brown on the 10p debacle yesterday. Notice that he said "we made mistakes", not "I made a mistake". Whenever he announces good news he is always the only one resposible. As for being intellectual, I understand it took him 10 years to get his Phd.

John Kane, Reading, UK

We need a complete review of the political system in the UK as it clearly outdated, never mind a general election. All politicians should have done a real job before entering parliament for starters.
Hopefully, the biggest con trick in British politics (New Labour) is now coming to an end (at last)

Paul, West Midlands, UK

Andy, Chester - I think you'll find the conservative cheshire county council axed the schools. The "only in charge for 12 months so can't blame us" tory city council have managed to close the city walls and stop major planned private investment in the city centre. Nice to debate local issues I say.

bryan, Chester, UK

EU & immigration? The only two issues that matter? Good old Little Englanders!
There is only one real issue that faces us all, and that is the crime against freedom that is ID cards.

Ken Cox, York, UK

"Gordon Brown will be recognised for his sincerity and capability prior to the General Election"
Eric, Southwick

Good luck with that, you'll need it.

Steve H, Boston, UK

How can Brown's "relaunch" involve "a contrite and listening tone" and then announce that he will not back down from a 42-day detention for terrorist suspects? He's only chance of success was to differentiate himself from Blair in policy and style, but it's just more of the same. Disappointing

Martin Bradley, Vienna,

Brown says that getting rid of the 10p tax band was a "very, very major tax reform". People appear to have forgoten that Brown introduced the 10p tax band when he was first made Chancellor. If the 10p tax band was such a problem that it needed such a major reform why did Brown introduce it?

Tom, Bristol,

A previous columnist wrote that the local election has no bearing on the national situation. Well I have to tell you that it most certainly is with me and ALL my neighbors. Ali Barber Brown and his 40 thieves have made it such that I, a socialist, cannot bring myself to vote for the local labour person.
I would make an anti-labour vote and go for conservative, but they have fielded a 19 year old student. He may be the brightest kid in the world, but a mere, no life experience, kid he none the less is.
It is therefore, with great pain in my heart, that I have elected to abstain for the first time ever. Needless to say I will not criticize my local council during the coming year.
It will be a different matter come the national election. I'd vote for Screaming Lord Sutch, just to get Brown out.

Bob, Warrington, Cheshire

Mary, Kensington, UK says,

EU and Immigration are the two policies that matter.

I think immigration is the more important of those two. This will be Brown's legacy for generations. The next generation could easily leave the European Union or treaty if it wanted to. Immigration though is final.

joe, Berwickshire , Scotland

Further Corporation Tax cuts? Did I miss something? Last anouncement was for a Corp Tax increase.

Brown has 3 questions to answer: Why is the UK tax system so complex? How can I simplify the tax system and reduce the cost fo tax collection? Where are we wasting money and how can I stop it?

James, Salisbury, UK

This is a Government that is out of time, out of touch, and soon they will be out of office.

Alastair Adams, Worcester Park, UK

Bryan, Chester - The Tories only recently took control of Chester. The previous LibDem / Labour coalition hardly covered themselves in glory and the spiteful Labour party have now imposed an unwanted unitary authority on Chester. Mr Brown says he will now listen, we heard that from his predecessor

Andy, Chester,

I have no affiliation or attraction to any particular party, (they are all self serving liars as far as i'm concerned who at the end of the day are only ever interested in lining their own pockets), but I do hope that Brown and his criminal labour get a good spanking in the elections!

CK, Nottingham,

"The Prime Minister is already planning an aggressive “relaunch” campaign, with new policies"

I thought reason he called off the election last year was so he could have time to publicize his new vision for Britain. So is this the new new vision? And if so, what happened to the old one?

Andrew Shakespeare, Cardiff, Wales

The incredible vindictive distortive attacks on Gordon only show the fear of getting beat at the ballot box at the General Election by a good and capable by man...............Their fear is justified too,Gordon Brown will be recognised for his sincerity and capability prior to the General Election

Eric, Southwick, England

Tomorrow is the 11th anniversary of Blair's victory speech, when he vaingloriously quipped: "No more broken promises!"
A general election must be called by 5th May 2010. Grim death will be held until then. Two more years of this hogwash is inevitable.

But when will we see a viable opposition?

Mike L, Chippenham, Wilts

Mr. Brown harks on about the long term but forgets he was the master of that for the last 10 years and what he he produced sweet nothing and massive debt.
Please Prime Minister, do us all a favour and push off, take a well paid banking job overseas with all your government and do not come back

Robert Marshall, London,

So Labour are going to relaunch with new policies, this was the same promise when the unwanted unelected primeminister came to power he promised new policies then. Labour can only raise taxes and waste, the education and health service are in a mess despite record investment. Time to cut taxes.

steve tea, manchester, cheshire

Oh if local elections were contested on local issues rather than treated as mid term popularity tests by metrocentric media and politians. Here in Chester the tories have demonstrated their real concen for public service by closing schools and cutting services. Shame on them.

Bryan, Chester,

Its being cheated all the time I resent.

I think Roger below is right below. People don't care what they say any more, they just want rid of them.

David B, Larkhall, UK

Its too late for Brown (and Labour). Too many people are no longer interested in anything Brown (or Labour) has to say. The next 2 years are a winding down period where this Government is not wanted but we have no choice but to put up with it.

kris, dartford,

A man who has got no more ideas cannot be allowed to rule anymore - so role on the wipe out !!!!! He is the new John Major !!!

Ian Payne, WALSALL,

SCOTLAND EXPECTS every man and woman in England & Wales with a vote today to do their duty and give the Liebour Party the whipping it richly deserves !

Robert Christie, Burntisland, Scotland

I agree with Roger of Swindon, we need to get rid- call an election now, for crying out loud how long are we going to have to put up with this man, he has no charm no carisma and no idea...
Tony, Hampshire

David Smith, Southampton, Hampshire

Oh, no! Not education reforms again. It's very hit or miss.

Charles Bockett-Pugh, Sandhurst,

Every time we open the papers we learn of a new stealth tax Gordon has imposed without having the decency to explain it to the electorate. Yesterday it was increased tax on older cars. So people who cannot afford to replace their car every 3 years are now to be charged more tax for keeping them.

Donna Walker, Effingham, Surrey

Brown is doomed. 100+ Labour MPs who are on course to lose their seats, and who never got the chance to express a view in a leadership election, will have no residual loyalty to him. The worst in the last 40 years? Intellectually perhaps the best, but in terms of character, potentially the worst.

Roy Pinney, Weston Super Mare,

To EU and immigration, you have to add education, defence, and finance. As to 40 years, I wonder. Harold Wilson was awful. John Major was an economic train wreck. Douglas-Hulme a nonentity. And let's not forget, Thatcher was largely responsible for the dumbing-down of Britain.

clive warner, Monterrey, Mexico

Dave Reardon - Brown didn't think people wouldn't be worse off without the 10p band. He thought he could bury it under news of the 22 to 20p change. He's always given with one hand / taken with other. In this case it worked as usual for him for almost a year - now finally the con has been noticed.

John, York,

Referendum

1) EU
2) immigration.

There are no other issues of import compared to these.

Mary, Kensington, UK

A generation is a long time.
Its generally taken as a 40 year period as in the 40 years the children of Israel wandered in the desert.
Surely Gordon doesnt rate the worst in 40 years?
I think people are so used to whinging about everything... its just comes to a head under Gordons PMship.

G.Gibson, Sydney, Australia

The only ' right long- term decision' is for Brown to call an immediate election, before he and his incompetents cause any more damage to the country.
People are now past caring what he says or does they just want rid.

Roger, swindon,

Brown has made many mistakes in the last 11 years and they are now catching up with him. I could have calculated that people would be worse off when changing 10p to 20p for the tax rate. He must be thick, that is not complicated to understand. The rest of the budget may be complicated but not that.

dave reardon, Nuneaton,