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I'll get on with job, says Brown | I'll get on with job, says Brown |
(10 minutes later) | |
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. | 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. |
He told the BBC the government had to "listen and hear people's concerns" over rising fuel and other costs. | He told the BBC the government had to "listen and hear people's concerns" over rising fuel and other costs. |
Addressing the economic downturn was his "whole focus", he added. | Addressing the economic downturn was his "whole focus", he added. |
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. | 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. | Mr Brown is now meeting trade union leaders and activists to discuss Labour's policies for the next general election. |
'We understand' | '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. |
Ahead of his address, Mr Brown said: "I think what people want to know is that we understand and we hear their concerns. | 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. | "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..." | "My whole focus and whole task is to take people through difficult times..." |
FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programme class="" href="/1/hi/scotland/glasgow_and_west/7522153.stm">Labour stunned in Glasgow East | |
He added: "We've got to listen and hear people's concerns and that's exactly what we are doing." | 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." | 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. |
'Cost of living' | |
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. |
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. | 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. |
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. | 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 sacking | Call 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. |
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. |