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Brown reaches first year at No 10 Brown reaches first year at No 10
(9 minutes later)
Gordon Brown has tried to shrug off a by-election drubbing as he marks his first year as prime minister.Gordon Brown has tried to shrug off a by-election drubbing as he marks his first year as prime minister.
Downing Street said it was "business as usual" for the prime minister as he visited a school in Manchester.Downing Street said it was "business as usual" for the prime minister as he visited a school in Manchester.
Asked about the Henley result, which saw Labour slump to fifth place, Mr Brown said "by-elections come and by-elections go". Asked about the Henley by-election result, which saw Labour slump to fifth place, Mr Brown said "by-elections come and by-elections go".
He said he wanted to get on with steering the country through difficult economic times.He said he wanted to get on with steering the country through difficult economic times.
There were not expected to be any public anniversary celebrations in Downing Street - but Mr Brown will be able to forget his troubles for a few hours later when he attends Nelson Mandela's 90th birthday party in London. There are not expected to be any public anniversary celebrations in Downing Street - but Mr Brown will be able to forget his troubles for a few hours later when he attends Nelson Mandela's 90th birthday party in London.
Labour polled just 1,066 votes in the Henley by-election, which saw Tory candidate John Howell elected with a majority of 10,116.Labour polled just 1,066 votes in the Henley by-election, which saw Tory candidate John Howell elected with a majority of 10,116.
I certainly, seeing the polls, would have to say that this is something that needs to be very seriously considered Lord Levy on whether Mr Brown should be replaced
Mr Brown was also faced with another set of grim opinion poll findings, which suggest 61% of voters think he is a liability to Labour, compared to 21% when he came to power.Mr Brown was also faced with another set of grim opinion poll findings, which suggest 61% of voters think he is a liability to Labour, compared to 21% when he came to power.
He may take comfort from other findings in the YouGov poll for the Daily Telegraph, which suggest that although Labour trails the Tories by 18 points the gap has narrowed slightly in the past month.He may take comfort from other findings in the YouGov poll for the Daily Telegraph, which suggest that although Labour trails the Tories by 18 points the gap has narrowed slightly in the past month.
'Listen' pledge'Listen' pledge
But the Henley by-election result is one of the worst for Labour in recent times, although the party was always expected to struggle in a safe Conservative constituency.But the Henley by-election result is one of the worst for Labour in recent times, although the party was always expected to struggle in a safe Conservative constituency.
Mr Brown said he would "listen to what people say" but would concentrate on dealing with problems such as high petrol, energy and food bills.Mr Brown said he would "listen to what people say" but would concentrate on dealing with problems such as high petrol, energy and food bills.
Gordon Brown's reaction to the Henley resultGordon Brown's reaction to the Henley result
"It's my job to make sure that I can do more to help people's standard of living be improved," he added."It's my job to make sure that I can do more to help people's standard of living be improved," he added.
Former Prime Minister Tony Blair, earlier declined to offer any advice to Mr Brown in the light of his recent troubles, saying he did not want to make things more difficult for his predecessor. Former Prime Minister Tony Blair earlier declined to offer any advice to Mr Brown in the light of his recent troubles, saying he did not want to make things more difficult for his successor.
He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "I've done this job, I did it for ten years. It's an honour and a privilege to do it but believe you me, it's an extremely difficult and tough job." He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "I've done this job, I did it for 10 years. It's an honour and a privilege to do it but believe you me, it's an extremely difficult and tough job."
He said he was 100% supportive of Mr Brown adding: "I've got the utmost respect for someone who does [the job] because I know how hard it is to do." He said he was 100% supportive of Mr Brown, adding: "I've got the utmost respect for someone who does [the job] because I know how hard it is to do."
A BBC survey of local Labour Party chairman suggests most back Mr Brown to lead the party into the next election, but there is unhappiness with the direction he is taking the party on public services. But Mr Blair's former chief fundraiser Lord Levy believes Labour should consider replacing Mr Brown.
Asked in an interview with BBC 2's Newsnight, to be broadcast later, if Mr Brown should go he says: "I certainly, seeing the polls, would have to say that this is something that needs to be very seriously considered.
But he adds: "I cannot see that there is any great leader of the Labour party who could replace him."
A BBC survey of local Labour Party chairmen, meanwhile, suggests most back Mr Brown to lead the party into the next election, but there is unhappiness with the direction he is taking the party on public services.
And 25% of the 135 chairmen surveyed though Mr Brown should have held an election last Autumn.And 25% of the 135 chairmen surveyed though Mr Brown should have held an election last Autumn.
NHS investmentNHS investment
The survey - which contacted 38% of local Labour Party bosses - found 70 of them thought the party had become too close to big business.The survey - which contacted 38% of local Labour Party bosses - found 70 of them thought the party had become too close to big business.
Some 89 of the 135 chairman thought Mr Brown was not right to encourage more private investment in the NHS. Some 89 of the 135 chairmen thought Mr Brown was not right to encourage more private investment in the NHS.
LABOUR CHAIRMEN 60% against more private involvement in health and education25% think Brown should have called election last autumn78% back Brown to lead Labour into the next election Source: BBC survey of 135 local Labour Party chairmen Results in fullLABOUR CHAIRMEN 60% against more private involvement in health and education25% think Brown should have called election last autumn78% back Brown to lead Labour into the next election Source: BBC survey of 135 local Labour Party chairmen Results in full
Olympics Minister Tessa Jowell later told BBC 4's The World At One: "The Labour Party will always tend to be further to the left than a Labour government.Olympics Minister Tessa Jowell later told BBC 4's The World At One: "The Labour Party will always tend to be further to the left than a Labour government.
"A New Labour government has to govern from the centre and that means measuring the impact and the benefits of change in terms of what is achieved rather than the old way of thinking about this, which is that public is good and private is bad.""A New Labour government has to govern from the centre and that means measuring the impact and the benefits of change in terms of what is achieved rather than the old way of thinking about this, which is that public is good and private is bad."
Conservative leader David Cameron said Mr Brown had been in charge of the economy for ten years but "didn't put aside money in the good years".Conservative leader David Cameron said Mr Brown had been in charge of the economy for ten years but "didn't put aside money in the good years".
"As a result, at the time when people need help, the cupboard is bare. I think that is the most damning thing of all," he said."As a result, at the time when people need help, the cupboard is bare. I think that is the most damning thing of all," he said.
'Unlucky prime minister''Unlucky prime minister'
And former Liberal Democrat leader Paddy Ashdown - who was last year offered the Cabinet post of Northern Ireland secretary by Mr Brown - said he doubted the prime minister could survive.And former Liberal Democrat leader Paddy Ashdown - who was last year offered the Cabinet post of Northern Ireland secretary by Mr Brown - said he doubted the prime minister could survive.
On this unhappy anniversary friends will mutter, foes will shout about the prime minister's misjudgements Nick RobinsonBBC political editor Read Nick's blog in fullOn this unhappy anniversary friends will mutter, foes will shout about the prime minister's misjudgements Nick RobinsonBBC political editor Read Nick's blog in full
He told Straight Talk with Andrew Neil on BBC News: "I have made some mistakes in my life but viewed out from a year ago, it does not seem to me that my decision to decline Mr Brown's kind invitation to join his government was one of them.He told Straight Talk with Andrew Neil on BBC News: "I have made some mistakes in my life but viewed out from a year ago, it does not seem to me that my decision to decline Mr Brown's kind invitation to join his government was one of them.
"Can he survive? Well, Margaret Thatcher was more unpopular than him but does he, you know - she had the personality, the opportunity and the luck. "Can he survive? Well, Margaret Thatcher was more unpopular than him but does he, you know? She had the personality, the opportunity and the luck.
"He's an unlucky prime minister, he hasn't got a great personality and I can't see what the opportunity is.""He's an unlucky prime minister, he hasn't got a great personality and I can't see what the opportunity is."