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'I feel voters' hurt', says Brown 'I feel voters' hurt', says Brown
(about 1 hour later)
Prime Minister Gordon Brown has said he understands people's "hurt", in the aftermath of Labour's worst local election results in 40 years.Prime Minister Gordon Brown has said he understands people's "hurt", in the aftermath of Labour's worst local election results in 40 years.
Mr Brown told the BBC it had "not been the best weekend", adding that voters were worried about rising petrol and food prices and utility bills.Mr Brown told the BBC it had "not been the best weekend", adding that voters were worried about rising petrol and food prices and utility bills.
"I do understand this and I feel the hurt that they feel," he said."I do understand this and I feel the hurt that they feel," he said.
Mr Brown said Labour had to show there was a "clear and unequivocal" plan to deal with the "economic downturn". Shadow defence minister Liam Fox said the government appeared to be short of ideas and in a "political vacuum".
Labour's poor local election results were topped by Ken Livingstone's defeat by Boris Johnson in London's mayoral race.Labour's poor local election results were topped by Ken Livingstone's defeat by Boris Johnson in London's mayoral race.
'Take fight to Tories''Take fight to Tories'
But asked if the party could recover in his first interview after the results, Mr Brown told BBC One's Andrew Marr programme: "Of course we can recover from this position and I'll tell you how. In his first interview following the results, Mr Brown told BBC One's Andrew Marr Show: "Of course we can recover from this position and I'll tell you how.
"First of all by sorting out the immediate problem with the economy and showing people we can come through as we have in the past very difficult economic times."First of all by sorting out the immediate problem with the economy and showing people we can come through as we have in the past very difficult economic times.
My first focus and immediate priority is how we get through this difficult economic time Gordon Brown I'm not going to be put off by a few days' headlines from the job that I'm determined to do for this country Gordon Brown
"Secondly by showing people that we have the vision of the future that will carry this country optimistically in my view into its next phase.""Secondly by showing people that we have the vision of the future that will carry this country optimistically in my view into its next phase."
Labour suffered a net loss of 331 seats in local elections in England and Wales on 1 May and their projected share of the vote at 24% put them in third place behind the Liberal Democrats.
Left-wing MP John Cruddas wrote in an article in the Sunday Mirror that the party was "sinking fast" and working-class voters felt "let down" as Labour sought the middle-class vote.
No leadership challenge
Various newspapers have speculated about plans to oust Mr Brown as Labour leader - but the prime minister told the BBC: "I don't believe many MPs are saying that" and said he did not accept that voters had deserted him.Various newspapers have speculated about plans to oust Mr Brown as Labour leader - but the prime minister told the BBC: "I don't believe many MPs are saying that" and said he did not accept that voters had deserted him.
He said he would be "taking the fight to the Conservative Party" over the next few months, which he said was "slick" and "impressive in its salesmanship" but short on substance. Left-wing Labour MP John McDonnell denied he was considering a possible "stalking horse" leadership challenge but told the BBC Mr Brown should consider stepping down if he could not turn the party around within six months.
Election speculation
He said Labour was on the side of "hard-working families" which was intervening to try to ease problems, while the Conservatives would "walk away and leave people defenceless as they did in the 1990s".
He acknowledged he had made mistakes over the decision to axe the 10p tax rate - which is estimated to have hit more than five million people on low incomes - and said he had spent "too little time" thinking about getting his message across to the public.
He's a man who spent his entire life trying to get to be prime minister but doesn't seem to know what he wants to do with it now he's there Liam FoxConservativesHe's a man who spent his entire life trying to get to be prime minister but doesn't seem to know what he wants to do with it now he's there Liam FoxConservatives
Mr Brown said he would be "taking the fight to the Conservative Party" over the next few months, which he said was "slick" and "impressive in its salesmanship" but short on substance.
He acknowledged he had made mistakes over the decision to axe the 10p tax rate - which is estimated to have hit more than five million people on low incomes - and said he had spent "too little time" thinking about getting his message across to the public.
And he admitted he had allowed speculation about a possible early general election - which he eventually decided not to call - "go too long"And he admitted he had allowed speculation about a possible early general election - which he eventually decided not to call - "go too long"
But he said the main problem was the "difficult economic circumstances". Difficult times
"People's immediate priority is how to deal with the family budgets and the problems we face as a result of what is an economic downturn which started in America," said Mr Brown. But his "first focus and immediate priority" was getting through this "difficult economic time".
"My first focus and immediate priority is how we get through this difficult economic time which is causing, I think, so much anxiety and insecurity in this country." "Leadership is tested by what happens, not in the best of times, but what happens when things are difficult.
Earlier shadow defence secretary Liam Fox told the same programme that the prime minister had no ideas: "The government is a political vacuum. Gordon Brown is a philosophical vacuum, it appears. "And I think you'll find that I'm resolute and determined, and I've got convictions and ideas, and I'm not going to be put off by a few days' headlines from the job that I'm determined to do for this country."
"He's a man who spent his entire life trying to get to be prime minister but doesn't seem to know what he wants to do with it now he's there." Earlier shadow defence secretary Liam Fox told the same programme Mr Brown was "caught in a mental rut" repeatedly claiming a record of economic stability at a time when families were being hit by rising prices.
He said government needed "stop patronising them by telling them they have got economic stability when to ordinary families they don't".
Of Mr Brown, he said: "He's a man who spent his entire life trying to get to be prime minister but doesn't seem to know what he wants to do with it now he's there."