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Labour 'has to rediscover fight' Labour 'has to rediscover fight'
(about 2 hours later)
Labour must "rediscover a bit of fight" ahead of the next general election, Tony Blair's former spokesman Alastair Campbell has said.Labour must "rediscover a bit of fight" ahead of the next general election, Tony Blair's former spokesman Alastair Campbell has said.
He told BBC One's Andrew Marr Show there had not been "nearly enough of a robust defence" of the party's record in government since 1997.He told BBC One's Andrew Marr Show there had not been "nearly enough of a robust defence" of the party's record in government since 1997.
Mr Campbell said the media had allowed the Tories "to get away with murder".Mr Campbell said the media had allowed the Tories "to get away with murder".
But shadow foreign secretary William Hague warned Labour not to start "counting its chickens".But shadow foreign secretary William Hague warned Labour not to start "counting its chickens".
'Talking''Talking'
Mr Campbell has reportedly been offering the government advice on its public relations strategy.Mr Campbell has reportedly been offering the government advice on its public relations strategy.
Asked whether he had been offered a post, he said: "I've never stopped talking to Gordon [Brown] and other people in the government and the Labour Party...Asked whether he had been offered a post, he said: "I've never stopped talking to Gordon [Brown] and other people in the government and the Labour Party...
"I just cannot stand the sight of seeing these Tories getting terribly smug... I will help but I'm not going to go back to a full-time position.""I just cannot stand the sight of seeing these Tories getting terribly smug... I will help but I'm not going to go back to a full-time position."
Mr Campbell said the "on-off election" of late 2007, when the prime minister eventually decided not to go to the country, was the cause of a decline in the government's popularity.Mr Campbell said the "on-off election" of late 2007, when the prime minister eventually decided not to go to the country, was the cause of a decline in the government's popularity.
But Mr Brown, in his dealings with the economic downturn, was "beginning to get through to the public" and showing that the "Tories have not really thought through their policy positions".But Mr Brown, in his dealings with the economic downturn, was "beginning to get through to the public" and showing that the "Tories have not really thought through their policy positions".
'Concerted campaign''Concerted campaign'
Mr Campbell also said that "if the Labour Party rediscovers a bit of fight it can close [the opinion poll gap]".Mr Campbell also said that "if the Labour Party rediscovers a bit of fight it can close [the opinion poll gap]".
He added: "The Labour Party, from top to bottom, has got to find a bit of fight.He added: "The Labour Party, from top to bottom, has got to find a bit of fight.
"There's not been nearly enough of a robust defence of our record... We need a co-ordinated, concerted campaign.""There's not been nearly enough of a robust defence of our record... We need a co-ordinated, concerted campaign."
Asked about whether Mr Brown's performance during the economic downturn would improve Labour's showing at the next election, Mr Hague said: "I think there's been counting of chickens far too much in advance.Asked about whether Mr Brown's performance during the economic downturn would improve Labour's showing at the next election, Mr Hague said: "I think there's been counting of chickens far too much in advance.
"The idea that Gordon Brown's been the beneficiary, I don't think that's been the case at all.""The idea that Gordon Brown's been the beneficiary, I don't think that's been the case at all."
He added: "We are going into this recession in one of the worst-prepared states of any of the developed countries.He added: "We are going into this recession in one of the worst-prepared states of any of the developed countries.
"I think it would be very strange if the electorate rewards Gordon Brown for that.""I think it would be very strange if the electorate rewards Gordon Brown for that."