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Blears attacks Labour's 'failure' Blears denies criticism of Brown
(about 8 hours later)
Communities Secretary Hazel Blears has attacked the government's "lamentable" failure to communicate. Communities Secretary Hazel Blears has insisted Gordon Brown has her support, after saying ministers had shown a "lamentable" failure to communicate.
Writing in the Observer, Ms Blears says the public does not believe many of the government's policy announcements. In an article for The Observer, Ms Blears said the public does not believe many government policy announcements.
And she says use of "new media" by politicians is not as effective as traditional campaigning methods. She added that the use of "new media" by politicians is not as effective as traditional campaigning methods.
"YouTube if you want to, but it is no substitute for knocking on doors or setting up a stall in the town centre," she says. The PM recently made an announcement online - but Ms Blears later stressed she was not criticising his leadership.
Her article comes amid other comments on the prime minister's performance over issues such as Gurkha settlement rights and MPs' expenses and opposition claims his authority has been fatally undermined.
In a statement, Ms Blears said: "Any suggestion that I intended what I wrote as criticism of him or his leadership is completely wrong.
"I fully support the collective decisions we take as a government.
"My article simply calls for the Labour Party to hit the streets campaigning against the Tories in the forthcoming local and European elections."
Mr Brown has launched an online version of Prime Minister's Questions, pledging to respond to videoclip questions submitted via the Downing Street YouTube website.
Labour ministers have a collective responsibility for the government's lamentable failure to get our message across Hazel Blears
In the article, Mrs Blears suggests leaving "slick presentation and clever soundbites" to the Conservatives.
"Promote your message via YouTube if you want to. But it is no substitute for knocking on doors or setting up a stall in the town centre," she wrote.
"We need to have a relationship with the voters based on shared instincts and emotions."We need to have a relationship with the voters based on shared instincts and emotions.
"We need to start showing we understand the instincts, fears, hopes and emotions of the broad mass of British people.""We need to start showing we understand the instincts, fears, hopes and emotions of the broad mass of British people."
Prime Minister Gordon Brown has launched an online version of Prime Minister's Questions, pledging to respond to videoclip questions submitted via the Downing Street YouTube website.
Commons defeatCommons defeat
Ms Blears also criticises the government's handling of the issue surrounding the Gurkhas, saying it put itself "on the wrong side of the British sense of fair play, and no party can stay there for long without dire consequences". Ms Blears also commented on the government's handling of the issue surrounding the Gurkhas, saying it put itself "on the wrong side of the British sense of fair play, and no party can stay there for long without dire consequences".
The government suffered a shock defeat in the Commons on Wednesday over its policy of restricting the right of many former Gurkhas to settle in the UK.The government suffered a shock defeat in the Commons on Wednesday over its policy of restricting the right of many former Gurkhas to settle in the UK.
MPs voted by 267 to 246 for a Lib Dem motion offering all Gurkhas equal right of residence, with the Tories and 27 Labour rebels backing it.MPs voted by 267 to 246 for a Lib Dem motion offering all Gurkhas equal right of residence, with the Tories and 27 Labour rebels backing it.
Ms Blears says that Mr Brown will lead the party into the next election, but she also says that the government must appear more "human" if it is to defeat the Tories.Ms Blears says that Mr Brown will lead the party into the next election, but she also says that the government must appear more "human" if it is to defeat the Tories.
"Labour ministers have a collective responsibility for the government's lamentable failure to get our message across," she says."Labour ministers have a collective responsibility for the government's lamentable failure to get our message across," she says.
"Whatever the problems of the recession, the answer is not more government documents or big speeches.""Whatever the problems of the recession, the answer is not more government documents or big speeches."
BBC political correspondent Laura Kuenssberg said sources close to Ms Blears have said this attack was not intended to be aimed solely at Mr Brown.
"The remarks she makes are really very strong, more important still because she's normally such a loyal voice, she's someone who routinely goes out there and defends the government and tries to sell their message," she said.
But this latest criticism will be seen as a piling up of pressure on the prime minister, our correspondent added.
Former deputy prime minister John Prescott had earlier rebuked Labour politicians who criticised the prime minister.Former deputy prime minister John Prescott had earlier rebuked Labour politicians who criticised the prime minister.
Mr Prescott said members should stop complaining and get behind the party.Mr Prescott said members should stop complaining and get behind the party.