This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk_politics/7418202.stm
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Brown 'must change course' to win | |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| Gordon Brown can win the next general election for Labour providing he changes course, former foreign secretary Margaret Beckett has said. | Gordon Brown can win the next general election for Labour providing he changes course, former foreign secretary Margaret Beckett has said. |
| The prime minister's leadership has come under pressure from within his party after defeat in Thursday's Crewe and Nantwich by-election. | The prime minister's leadership has come under pressure from within his party after defeat in Thursday's Crewe and Nantwich by-election. |
| Ms Beckett said Labour had to learn from the electorate's "clear desire to see a change of course". | Ms Beckett said Labour had to learn from the electorate's "clear desire to see a change of course". |
| Mr Brown has said he can steer the UK through "difficult" economic times. | Mr Brown has said he can steer the UK through "difficult" economic times. |
| Potential successors | Potential successors |
| Ms Beckett told BBC Two's Newsnight programme that Mr Brown had a track record of success. | Ms Beckett told BBC Two's Newsnight programme that Mr Brown had a track record of success. |
| "There is absolutely nothing to say that provided we listen to the electorate, and learn from their clear desire to see a change of course, there's nothing whatsoever to say the result of the next general election is set," she said. | "There is absolutely nothing to say that provided we listen to the electorate, and learn from their clear desire to see a change of course, there's nothing whatsoever to say the result of the next general election is set," she said. |
| Most of Saturday's newspapers lead with speculation about Mr Brown's future, with a variety of potential successors identified. | Most of Saturday's newspapers lead with speculation about Mr Brown's future, with a variety of potential successors identified. |
| An increasing number of minsters have voiced the fear that Labour cannot win the next general election with Mr Brown in charge, the Guardian claims. | An increasing number of minsters have voiced the fear that Labour cannot win the next general election with Mr Brown in charge, the Guardian claims. |
| The Daily Telegraph says ministers are urging the prime minister to scrap rises in car taxes and petrol duty in a bid to regain popularity. | The Daily Telegraph says ministers are urging the prime minister to scrap rises in car taxes and petrol duty in a bid to regain popularity. |
| New leader | New leader |
| However, so far the appetite of backbenchers for a leadership contest appears to be slight. I think the mood right now is, 'Can things get any worse?' Prof Robert Worcester, Mori | |
| John McDonnell, who made an attempt for the Labour Party leadership in 2007, said he detected no mood for change at present. | John McDonnell, who made an attempt for the Labour Party leadership in 2007, said he detected no mood for change at present. |
| Fellow MP Alan Simpson said Mr Brown had until the end of the year to "turn things round". | Fellow MP Alan Simpson said Mr Brown had until the end of the year to "turn things round". |
| However, party deputy leader Harriet Harman said the vast majority of Labour members were "solidly behind" Mr Brown. | However, party deputy leader Harriet Harman said the vast majority of Labour members were "solidly behind" Mr Brown. |
| Professor Robert Worcester, founder of pollsters Mori, told BBC Radio 4 that it was skilled working class voters who appeared to have deserted Labour. | |
| "They vote typically in anticipation - are things going to get better?" he said. | |
| "The slogan of 1997, 'It can only better', was spot-on for the mood of the electorate at that time. | |
| "I think the mood right now is, 'Can things get any worse?'" | |
| Prof Worcester said that to win those voters back, Labour may have to focus on people's basic worries, rather than on higher level issues like the environment. | |
| "The more esoteric questions, the more removed questions, are not going to bite in electoral terms as much as doing something about food prices, doing something about petrol prices, doing something about car taxes." |