Lord Mandelson has warned that Labour would be "underdogs" at the next election but said that they will win thanks to Gordon Brown's experienced leadership. In a keynote conference speech, the Business Secretary acknowledged the election was not "cut and dried" and still "up for grabs". "We may be the underdogs," he told conference delegates. "But if we show the British people that we have not lost the fighting spirit and appetite for change ... then we can win and will win."
In a keynote conference speech, the Business Secretary acknowledged the election was not "cut and dried" and still "up for grabs".
"We may be the underdogs," he told conference delegates. "But if we show the British people that we have not lost the fighting spirit and appetite for change ... then we can win and will win."
Gordon Brown will get "little credit" if Britain's economy is clearly recovering in the run-up to the general election, an exclusive new poll for The Times reveals. But the cloud of gloom that has engulfed the Prime Minister may be lifted slightly by the response to calls from within Labour for him to resign. Almost three fifths of the party believe he should continue as leader through to polling day - and after all the recent criticism he has faced, it is a level of support for which Mr Brown may be relieved. The Populus poll, undertaken over the weekend, shows that half the public (51 per cent) and nearly two fifths of Labour voters (38 per cent) believe Labour would be better off if Mr Brown was to "quit with dignity", as Charles Clarke, the former Home Secretary, said last week. However, just over two-fifths of voters (43 per cent) and three-fifths of Labour supporters (59 per cent) want Mr Brown to continue as leader through to the general election. More worrying for Labour is that, even if the economy is coming out of recession and clearly recovering by early next year, Mr Brown is unlikely to gain much credit outside the ranks of his own party's supporters. Nearly half the public ( 47 per cent) say Mr Brown will deserve "only a little credit" for the recovery, while just over a quarter (27 per cent) say he will deserve "no credit at all".
Gordon Brown will get "little credit" if Britain's economy is clearly recovering in the run-up to the general election, an exclusive new poll for The Times reveals.
But the cloud of gloom that has engulfed the Prime Minister may be lifted slightly by the response to calls from within Labour for him to resign. Almost three fifths of the party believe he should continue as leader through to polling day - and after all the recent criticism he has faced, it is a level of support for which Mr Brown may be relieved.
The Populus poll, undertaken over the weekend, shows that half the public (51 per cent) and nearly two fifths of Labour voters (38 per cent) believe Labour would be better off if Mr Brown was to "quit with dignity", as Charles Clarke, the former Home Secretary, said last week. However, just over two-fifths of voters (43 per cent) and three-fifths of Labour supporters (59 per cent) want Mr Brown to continue as leader through to the general election.
More worrying for Labour is that, even if the economy is coming out of recession and clearly recovering by early next year, Mr Brown is unlikely to gain much credit outside the ranks of his own party's supporters. Nearly half the public ( 47 per cent) say Mr Brown will deserve "only a little credit" for the recovery, while just over a quarter (27 per cent) say he will deserve "no credit at all".
I hate the tories, but accept that labour have to lose, that all of the elitist right wing trash cluttering its benches need to be expunged before a Labour party will be electable again. keep to the Fen Causeway
On anti-social behaviour the prime minister will tell delegates: "Whenever and wherever there is anti-social behaviour, we will be there to fight it. "We will not stand by and see the lives of the lawful majority disrupted by the behaviour of the lawless minority. "Because the decent, hard working majority are getting evermore angry - rightly so - with the minority who who will talk about their rights but never accept their responsibilities."
On anti-social behaviour the prime minister will tell delegates: "Whenever and wherever there is anti-social behaviour, we will be there to fight it.
"We will not stand by and see the lives of the lawful majority disrupted by the behaviour of the lawless minority.
"Because the decent, hard working majority are getting evermore angry - rightly so - with the minority who who will talk about their rights but never accept their responsibilities."
He then clinked a glass, said 'Cheers', and passed the hat for election contributions from his banking chums, while the gods of irony thundered and cast lightning bolts in vain.
