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Harman says Labour 'behind Brown' Brown pledges 'clear direction'
(about 1 hour later)
Gordon Brown has the backing of the "overwhelming majority" of the Labour Party, Harriet Harman has said after the Tories won Crewe and Nantwich. Gordon Brown has said he is the person to steer the economy through "difficult times", following Labour's defeat at the Crewe and Nantwich by-election.
Labour's deputy leader said there were some "discordant voices" but most members were "solidly behind" Mr Brown. Asked if he would remain Labour leader he said he would address economic problems with a "clear direction".
On Thursday the Tories made their first by-election gain since 1982, winning the seat from Labour on a 17.6% swing. He understood concerns over rising prices and whether he could tackle them adding: "I believe I can do so".
Ms Harman said people were "feeling the pinch" and Mr Brown was the "right person" to deal with economic problems. It comes as Labour MP Graham Stringer called for a leadership challenge to save Labour from electoral "disaster".
BBC political editor Nick Robinson said privately some ministers had expressed concerns about Mr Brown's leadership - one minister had compared the party's plight with that under Michael Foot's leadership. He told the BBC News Channel: "It is the responsibility of senior members of the cabinet to say we are going in the wrong direction" - and he said one of them should declare their intention to stand against Mr Brown.
'Divisive' campaign "Without that we are heading for electoral disaster at the next election and I desperately want the Labour Party to win," he added.
'Discordant voices'
Cabinet members have been rallying round Mr Brown in the wake of the by-election defeat, with his deputy, Harriet Harman, said the vast majority of Labour members were "solidly behind" Mr Brown.
But BBC political editor Nick Robinson said privately some ministers had expressed concerns about Mr Brown's leadership - one minister had compared the party's plight with that under Michael Foot's leadership.
They are solidly behind Gordon Brown and what he stands for, which is a strong economy and a fair society Harriet HarmanDeputy Labour leader
Ms Harman conceded on BBC Radio 4's Today programme there were "discordant voices" within the party.Ms Harman conceded on BBC Radio 4's Today programme there were "discordant voices" within the party.
But she added: "The overwhelming majority of people within the Labour Party - and I speak to constituency chairs and secretaries up and down the country in my role as deputy leader - they are solidly behind Gordon Brown and what he stands for, which is a strong economy and a fair society.But she added: "The overwhelming majority of people within the Labour Party - and I speak to constituency chairs and secretaries up and down the country in my role as deputy leader - they are solidly behind Gordon Brown and what he stands for, which is a strong economy and a fair society.
It's difficult to imagine a more inept campaign Matthew TaylorFormer Labour strategist
"And he's the man with the experience to make sure that happens.""And he's the man with the experience to make sure that happens."
No predictions
Conservative leader David Cameron said Labour had run a "backward looking" and "divisive" campaign: "It was in many ways the end of New Labour and I think it was a great mistake for them."Conservative leader David Cameron said Labour had run a "backward looking" and "divisive" campaign: "It was in many ways the end of New Labour and I think it was a great mistake for them."
And former Labour strategist Matthew Taylor told the BBC: "It's difficult to imagine a more inept campaign. On the one hand it seemed to be designed to undermine Gordon's image as being a man of substance and principle.And former Labour strategist Matthew Taylor told the BBC: "It's difficult to imagine a more inept campaign. On the one hand it seemed to be designed to undermine Gordon's image as being a man of substance and principle.
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"On the other hand it seemed to imply that Labour was more happy attacking the Conservatives on style and their class origins than on substance.""On the other hand it seemed to imply that Labour was more happy attacking the Conservatives on style and their class origins than on substance."
'No magic wand'
But Ms Harman said the result had not been "a judgment from voters about the campaign" or a judgment on the candidates - instead it was about "family finances and apprehension they fear about their prospects" which the government would address.But Ms Harman said the result had not been "a judgment from voters about the campaign" or a judgment on the candidates - instead it was about "family finances and apprehension they fear about their prospects" which the government would address.
She said the government's £2.7bn package to allow basic rate taxpayers' a bigger personal tax allowance - to compensate some of those who lost out when the 10p tax band was abolished - had helped 22 million people.
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But she said: "We don't expect, having done that a week or so ago, everybody would turn round and say: 'Thank you very much, we are now going to get over our objection to the way you dealt with the 10p tax rate'."
She said the government intended to do "everything we can on food prices and on fuel prices" - including pressure to increase fuel supply, step up renewable energy efforts and help with insulation.
"I acknowledge there is no immediate magic wand but I think people need to know that Gordon Brown and the government understand that people are feeling apprehensive about their own prospects and they want us to do what we can about that.
"We will do whatever we can against a background of difficult international circumstances and Gordon Brown is the person with the right experience to do that."
She also said by-elections were not "good predictions of what's going to happen at a general election" and Labour had taken a "bigger hit" in several by-elections before the 2005 general election - but gone on to win.She also said by-elections were not "good predictions of what's going to happen at a general election" and Labour had taken a "bigger hit" in several by-elections before the 2005 general election - but gone on to win.
'Difficult times'
Speaking on a visit to Guy's and St Thomas' hospital, Mr Brown said he had got a "clear and unequivocal" message from voters in Crewe and Nantwich.
"The message that we have got is that people are concerned. They're concerned about rising food prices, rising petrol prices. People are concerned, rightly, about gas and electricity bills," he said.
"And I think the message that I have to get to people is this, that we are unequivocal and clear in our direction, that we're going to address and are addressing these problems. We will continue to do so.
"And my task is to steer the British economy through what have been very difficult times in every country of the world."
He was asked whether nervous Labour backbenchers might try to move against him, but replied the "task ahead" was to take the British economy through "difficult times".
On Thursday the Conservatives made their first by-election gain since 1982, winning the seat from Labour on a 17.6% swing.
Labour left-winger John McDonnell, who failed to get enough Labour MPs backing him to challenge Mr Brown for the leadership last year, said Mr Brown's "re-launch" after the local elections had been a "disaster".Labour left-winger John McDonnell, who failed to get enough Labour MPs backing him to challenge Mr Brown for the leadership last year, said Mr Brown's "re-launch" after the local elections had been a "disaster".
"Things are just going from bad to worse for the government," he said."Things are just going from bad to worse for the government," he said.