Can Brown turn it round? Of course I can !!!

By Brian Wheeler
Politics reporter, BBC News

"The public do seem to have switched off. Not necessarily from the government as a whole but they don't seem to be engaging with Gordon."

Mr Brown has promised help for families hit by rising prices

He may not be one of nature's Brownites - in fact he recently added his voice to calls for the prime minister to quit - but former spin doctor Lance Price has a knack of putting into words what Downing Street must be fearing the most at the moment.

Mr Brown is getting ready to stake his political future on a package of economic measures aimed at helping families through the credit crunch.

All manner of goodies have been hinted at - from a stamp duty holiday to one-off windfall payments to help with winter fuel bills.

The idea is to show voters Labour is "on its side" - that it is looking out for "ordinary people" - and hopefully provide some relief from some of its worst poll ratings in history.

Mr Brown's future as prime minister may rest on the reaction it gets.

But the fear for the government is that the public will fail to give Mr Brown any credit for his largesse - or simply shrugs its shoulders and change the channel.

"Even when he does something that should be ostensibly popular, no one is listening," says the former Downing Street man.

"That is a very dangerous position for the government to be in."

'Dreadful area'

Some Conservatives see parallels between Mr Brown's problems and their own party's predicament in the mid-1990s.

"They're entering that dreadful kind of area where almost everything they say and do is automatically rejected," shadow local government secretary Eric Pickles told The Financial Times.

"I am not saying they're entirely there but they are beginning to sink without a sign of the bottom."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/nol/ukfs_news/hi/newsid_7570000/newsid_7573000/7573011.stm

Meet the stars always a good ploy

Brown meets triple gold hero Hoy

Mr Brown congratulated fellow Scot and triple gold medallist Chris Hoy

Gordon Brown has met triple gold medallist Chris Hoy at a reception in China hosted by their old university.

Both the PM and Hoy, Scotland's most successful Olympian, were students at Edinburgh, which put on a reception at the British Embassy in Beijing.

They had tea with Principal Professor Sir Timothy O'Shea and ambassador William Ehrman.

Sir Timothy said Hoy, who graduated in Applied Sport Science in 1999, was a "great ambassador for the university".

Mr Brown, who went to Edinburgh University when he was just 16, graduated with a first class honours MA aged 19 and became rector of the university in 1972.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/nol/ukfs_news/hi/newsid_7570000/newsid_7577300/7577328.stm

Darling I Love You !!!!!!!

Darling: Brown can win election

Alistair Darling is standing in for Gordon Brown while he is on holiday

Alistair Darling says he is optimistic Gordon Brown can overcome his current political difficulties to "turn things round" and win the next election.

The chancellor said Labour needed to set out a clear vision and "recapture that conviction and zeal" it once had.

Mr Darling, who is deputising for the PM while he is on holiday, said: "I think we can get through this."

He refused to be drawn on reports the government is considering temporarily scrapping stamp duty.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7542393.stm

Vacuum ??? Where???

Ex-ministers' challenge to Brown

Speculation about Gordon Brown's future has increased recently

A group of ex-Labour ministers are to set out their own policy agenda to fill what they see as a "vacuum" at the heart of government.

The unnamed former ministers told the BBC their list of four or five initiatives would distinguish Labour from David Cameron's Conservatives.

The move, expected within weeks, will increase the pressure on Gordon Brown.

Three cabinet ministers have attempted to damp down speculation about his leadership by rallying to his defence.

The BBC's Iain Watson reports that one of the group of former ministers stated: "Gordon Brown's back is against the wall."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7539858.stm

Quite right !!!!!

MPs urge Brown to sack Miliband

The media met Mr Miliband as he arrived at BBC Radio 2's studios Profile: David Miliband Nick Robinson's blog

Two Labour backbenchers have called for David Miliband to be sacked over an article which led to speculation he wanted to succeed Gordon Brown.

The foreign secretary had "overstepped the line", Geraldine Smith said, while fellow MP Bob Marshall-Andrews accused him of "duplicitous" behaviour.

The Guardian article discussed Labour's future without mentioning Mr Brown.

But Mr Miliband told BBC Radio 2's Jeremy Vine show that he was "not running a leadership campaign".

He insisted Labour was "not down and out", despite last week's by-election defeat in Glasgow East and poor poll ratings.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7534729.stm

No one beleives you including ME!!!!

Labour not down or out - Miliband

The media were waiting for Mr Miliband as he arrived at BBC Radio 2's studios

Labour is "not down and out", despite its recent by-election defeat in Glasgow and poor poll ratings, Foreign Secretary David Miliband has said.

The party was "determined" to be clear about its values, and ensure a "real choice at the next election", he added.

Mr Miliband told BBC Radio 2's Jeremy Vine he was "not running a leadership campaign" against Gordon Brown.

But two Labour backbenchers want him to be sacked over an article which led to speculation he wanted to be leader.

Geraldine Smith said Mr Miliband was "trying to stir up trouble" with a piece in The Guardian talking about Labour's future which did not mention Mr Brown.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7534729.stm

I'm on holiday and not going !!!

Brown dismisses resignation calls

Gordon Brown outlines his priorities

Prime Minister Gordon Brown has dismissed calls for his resignation, saying he is determined to take the "right decisions" for the country.

He was speaking on a visit to a country park in Norfolk, at the start of his summer holiday.

Questions have been raised about Mr Brown's leadership after Labour's shock defeat at the Glasgow East by-election.

It comes as ministers, unions and activists meet to discuss a blueprint for the next election manifesto.

Mr Brown and his wife Sarah started their summer holidays with a visit to Whitlingham Country Park, near Norwich, ahead of a break at the seaside resort of Southwold, Suffolk.

Mr Brown said: "I'm getting on with the job and I think it's important that in difficult economic circumstances we take the right decisions for the future to get fuel prices down, to get food prices down, to make sure we get the housing market moving...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7527142.stm

Good ol' straw !!

Straw backs Brown to remain as PM

Jack Straw has made public his support for the prime minister

Jack Straw has said he is "absolutely convinced" that Gordon Brown remains the "right man" to lead Labour.

The by-election defeat in Glasgow East was disappointing, but it would be a "big mistake" for Labour to turn in on itself now, the justice secretary said.

It is the first time he has spoken out publicly in support of the prime minister since Thursday's defeat.

Mr Straw told the BBC he had no plans to mount a leadership bid, despite reports an ally is canvassing support.

Mr Straw, who has been touted as a potential caretaker leader, had previously made it known he wanted Labour to close ranks behind Mr Brown, without coming out publicly in support of him.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7527390.stm

Bstards !!

Harman denies planning leader bid

Ms Harman says Mr Brown is the "solution" not the "problem"

Harriet Harman has insisted she is "not preparing the ground for a leadership election" amid growing speculation over Prime Minister Gordon Brown's future.

The Commons Leader rejected a Times report she was overheard telling aides after Labour's Glasgow East by-election defeat: "This is my moment."

Mr Brown has been under pressure since Labour saw its majority overturned by the SNP in last Thursday's poll.

Two Labour MPs have openly called for him to consider resigning.

But Downing Street sources told the Press Association that reports Ms Harman and Foreign Secretary David Miliband were preparing leadership challenges were "garbage".

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7531576.stm

Bstard !!

Miliband denies 'leadership' bid

David Miliband praises Gordon Brown as a leader

David Miliband has insisted he is not "campaigning" for the Labour leadership - despite writing about the party's future with no mention of Gordon Brown.

He said he was prompted to write his Guardian article because of the sense of "fatalism" in the party after its defeat in the Glasgow East by-election.

"Can Gordon lead us into the next election and win? Yes. I'm absolutely confident about that," he said.

He said his article was challenging David Cameron, rather than Mr Brown.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7532691.stm