Gordon Brown is to stake Labour’s survival on a swift return to economic growth and giving people more power over their public services, including the police, he tells The Times today.

In a defiant interview after another crisis of confidence in his leadership, a slump in Labour’s vote to 16 per cent in the European elections and the debilitating expenses scandal, the Prime Minister brushes aside suggestions that he might walk away before the next election.

“I have got a job to do,” he says. “One that every day I address with new enthusiasm.”

On Monday, Mr Brown will publish a new policy blueprint, Building Britain’s Future, including a draft programme for the last parliamentary session before the election.

The centrepiece of the policy reform will be plans to give patients, parents, citizens and residents more personalised services and more powers of redress if they feel they are not getting the service they require.

Mr Brown says that the police will be required to work more closely with residents, who will be given more say over whether technology such as closed-circuit television is used in their area, and over where thugs and vandals should serve their “community payback” sentences.

People will be able to phone the police and get advice about matters such as crime hotspots. There will be a new push on powers that allow residents to complain about a certain type of crime in their area, which would be taken into account by magistrates when passing sentence on offenders.

The Prime Minister says that the Government will insist on the highest professional standards from the services.

He goes on: “We are prepared to take on any vested interest that stands in the way of better services. Services exist not for the public servants but for the people who are there to be served. For the patient, parent, resident and citizen our first focus will be how they can be better served.”

He also hints that legislation to phase out the remaining 92 hereditary peers in the House of Lords will be introduced before the election.

On the economy, Mr Brown says that he has a “mission” to get Britain through difficult times. The decisions that he has taken to tackle the recession are being shown to be right and will eventually be seen by the public to have been right.

“I am always going to get on with the job I have set myself. I am not going to be diverted. The important thing for me is getting on with the job and not thinking about anything else.”

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