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| Version 6 | Version 7 |
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| 'I feel voters' hurt', says Brown | 'I feel voters' hurt', says Brown |
| (10 minutes 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. |
| Shadow defence secretary Liam Fox said the government appeared to be short of ideas and in a "political vacuum". | Shadow defence secretary 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' |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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 class="" href="/1/hi/uk_politics/7382627.stm">Brown given new tax revolt threat | |
| "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. | 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. | 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 | 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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 Fox,Shadow defence secretary | 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 Fox,Shadow defence secretary |
| 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. | 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. | 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". |
| Difficult times | Difficult times |
| But his "first focus and immediate priority" was getting through this "difficult economic time". | But his "first focus and immediate priority" was getting through this "difficult economic time". |
| "Leadership is tested by what happens, not in the best of times, but what happens when things are difficult. | "Leadership is tested by what happens, not in the best of times, but what happens when things are difficult. |
| "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." | "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." |
| 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. | 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". | 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." | 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." |