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Labour 'must unite behind Brown' I'll get on with job, says Brown
(40 minutes later)
Labour must "unite" behind Gordon Brown following the loss of one of its safest seats in the Glasgow East by-election, the Scottish secretary has said. Gordon Brown has promised to "get on with the job" of dealing with the economy, following Labour's defeat in the Glasgow East by-election.
Des Browne told the BBC the prime minister and party had to "hold our nerve" and respond to the economic "challenges" facing the UK. He told the BBC the government had to "listen and hear people's concerns" over rising fuel and other costs.
But the government had to "listen" to voters' concerns, he added. Addressing the economic downturn was his "whole focus", he added.
Mr Brown is to meet trade union leaders and activists later to discuss Labour's policies for the next general election. Scottish Secretary Des Browne earlier said Labour had to "unite" behind the prime minister after the defeat in one of the party's safest seats.
Mr Brown is now meeting trade union leaders and activists to discuss Labour's policies for the next general election.
'We understand'
His speech at that event - the National Policy Forum in Warwick - is expected at 1100 and is being seen as a key moment in Mr Brown's efforts to turn round party morale.His speech at that event - the National Policy Forum in Warwick - is expected at 1100 and is being seen as a key moment in Mr Brown's efforts to turn round party morale.
'Cost of living' Ahead of his address, Mr Brown said: "I think what people want to know is that we understand and we hear their concerns.
"People are worried every time they go to the petrol station for fuel and worry about the costs... These are concerns that are happening in every other country.
"My whole focus and whole task is to take people through difficult times..."
FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programme
He added: "We've got to listen and hear people's concerns and that's exactly what we are doing."
Mr Brown also said: "I'm getting on with the job. My task is getting on with the job. It's exactly what people want me to do."
The Glasgow East seat became vacant with the resignation on health grounds of Labour's David Marshall.The Glasgow East seat became vacant with the resignation on health grounds of Labour's David Marshall.
The SNP won the by-election by 365 votes, overturning a Labour majority of 13,507.The SNP won the by-election by 365 votes, overturning a Labour majority of 13,507.
FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programme
It follows the recent loss of the Crewe and Nantwich seat, the London mayoralty and poor results in local elections.It follows the recent loss of the Crewe and Nantwich seat, the London mayoralty and poor results in local elections.
Mr Browne, who is also defence secretary, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that people's economic concerns - such as high fuel and food prices - were behind the loss of Glasgow East. Scottish Secretary Mr Browne, who is also defence secretary, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that people's economic concerns were behind the loss of Glasgow East.
He said: "It's directly related to the cost of living."He said: "It's directly related to the cost of living."
Mr Browne added: "We do need to listen. And we need to do more of the sorts of things that we've been doing to respond to people to make them feel that there is a sense of fairness about the way in which we are dealing with the challenges that they are facing day to day."Mr Browne added: "We do need to listen. And we need to do more of the sorts of things that we've been doing to respond to people to make them feel that there is a sense of fairness about the way in which we are dealing with the challenges that they are facing day to day."
He said: "People do not think that the steps we are taking at the moment are adequately responding to the circumstances that they feel.He said: "People do not think that the steps we are taking at the moment are adequately responding to the circumstances that they feel.
"We need to build on what we have been doing - and we planned to do that in any event - but we also need to hold our nerve and hold the course on the longer-term issues.""We need to build on what we have been doing - and we planned to do that in any event - but we also need to hold our nerve and hold the course on the longer-term issues."
There was also a "Scottish context" to the defeat, with Labour currently lacking a leader in Scotland and having lost control of the country's parliament.There was also a "Scottish context" to the defeat, with Labour currently lacking a leader in Scotland and having lost control of the country's parliament.
Rights demandRights demand
At the Warwick conference later, the unions, which now account for the vast majority of Labour Party funding, are expected to put 100 demands to the government seeking new rights for workers. At the Warwick conference, the unions, which now account for the vast majority of Labour Party funding, are expected to put 100 demands to the government seeking new rights for workers.
The three-day forum will be considering new ideas and amendments to current policies.The three-day forum will be considering new ideas and amendments to current policies.
It brings together 55 Constituency Labour Parties and 30 trade unions, as well as other socialist movements.It brings together 55 Constituency Labour Parties and 30 trade unions, as well as other socialist movements.
It divides policy into six areas - Britain in the world; communities; crime and justice; education; health; prosperity.It divides policy into six areas - Britain in the world; communities; crime and justice; education; health; prosperity.
BBC political correspondent Iain Watson said the demands expected to be made by the unions included paying young apprentices a minimum wage, more time off for carers and universal broadband access.BBC political correspondent Iain Watson said the demands expected to be made by the unions included paying young apprentices a minimum wage, more time off for carers and universal broadband access.
Call for sackingCall for sacking
When deciding its strategy and formulating its general election manifesto, Labour uses a three-year cycle of discussions and debates.When deciding its strategy and formulating its general election manifesto, Labour uses a three-year cycle of discussions and debates.
class="" href="/1/hi/scotland/glasgow_and_west/7522153.stm">Labour stunned in Glasgow East This event is the final such meeting in the current cycle, and it is therefore considered an important step ahead of the party's annual conference in Manchester in September. This event is the final such meeting in the current cycle, and it is therefore considered an important step ahead of the party's annual conference in Manchester in September.
Labour said on its website that the democratic nature of this weekend's forum stood "in stark contrast to a Tory Party devoid of democratic policy-making, which has relied on policy commission run by figures from the failed Tory past".Labour said on its website that the democratic nature of this weekend's forum stood "in stark contrast to a Tory Party devoid of democratic policy-making, which has relied on policy commission run by figures from the failed Tory past".
Earlier this week Business Secretary John Hutton shrugged off a report in The Times suggesting union leaders would use the forum to demand his sacking.Earlier this week Business Secretary John Hutton shrugged off a report in The Times suggesting union leaders would use the forum to demand his sacking.
This was because of a complete "breakdown in relations" with him, the newspaper said, although Mr Hutton later insisted he was not aware of a problem.This was because of a complete "breakdown in relations" with him, the newspaper said, although Mr Hutton later insisted he was not aware of a problem.
His future was in the hands of Mr Brown and not the unions, he added.His future was in the hands of Mr Brown and not the unions, he added.