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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Poll talk looms over Labour rally | Poll talk looms over Labour rally |
| (about 6 hours later) | |
| The Labour Party is heading to Bournemouth for its annual conference amid speculation Gordon Brown is preparing to call a general election. | The Labour Party is heading to Bournemouth for its annual conference amid speculation Gordon Brown is preparing to call a general election. |
| Most pundits believe it more likely that the prime minister will delay any poll until May 2008 at the earliest. | Most pundits believe it more likely that the prime minister will delay any poll until May 2008 at the earliest. |
| But rumours he will go to the country at the end of October continue to circulate in Westminster. | But rumours he will go to the country at the end of October continue to circulate in Westminster. |
| It comes as an opinion poll for BBC Two's Newsnight suggests voters do not blame Labour for recent economic woes. | |
| The Conservatives and Lib Dems have both said Mr Brown is partly responsible for fuelling the debt bubble they say led to the Northern Rock credit crunch crisis, when he was chancellor. | The Conservatives and Lib Dems have both said Mr Brown is partly responsible for fuelling the debt bubble they say led to the Northern Rock credit crunch crisis, when he was chancellor. |
| But the Newsnight poll suggests voters continue to trust Labour's handling of the economy. | But the Newsnight poll suggests voters continue to trust Labour's handling of the economy. |
| Confidence | Confidence |
| They were asked: "Irrespective of how you yourself will vote at the next election, which political party do you think is putting forward the best policies on the economy generally?" | They were asked: "Irrespective of how you yourself will vote at the next election, which political party do you think is putting forward the best policies on the economy generally?" |
| The results show Labour on top with 34%, the Conservatives at 22% and the Lib Dems polled 15%. 19% said they didn't know. | The results show Labour on top with 34%, the Conservatives at 22% and the Lib Dems polled 15%. 19% said they didn't know. |
| Asked about the general economic climate and their own financial position within it, 10% said they were very confident, while 61% were fairly confident, and 21% said they were not very confident. | Asked about the general economic climate and their own financial position within it, 10% said they were very confident, while 61% were fairly confident, and 21% said they were not very confident. |
| These results show a slight rise from the last time the same question was asked four years ago in 2003. Then, just 8% were very confident and 48% were fairly confident. | These results show a slight rise from the last time the same question was asked four years ago in 2003. Then, just 8% were very confident and 48% were fairly confident. |
| It's legitimate for him to go at any time, I can make no prediction about that Jack Straw | It's legitimate for him to go at any time, I can make no prediction about that Jack Straw |
| ICM interviewed a random sample of 1,029 adults by telephone on 19 and 20 September 2007. | ICM interviewed a random sample of 1,029 adults by telephone on 19 and 20 September 2007. |
| The poll is likely to fuel speculation that Mr Brown will go for an early election. | The poll is likely to fuel speculation that Mr Brown will go for an early election. |
| Justice Secretary Jack Straw failed to dampen such talk in a GMTV interview to be broadcast on Sunday. | Justice Secretary Jack Straw failed to dampen such talk in a GMTV interview to be broadcast on Sunday. |
| He said: "It's legitimate for him to go [to the polls] at any time, I can make no prediction about that." | He said: "It's legitimate for him to go [to the polls] at any time, I can make no prediction about that." |
| Marginal seats | Marginal seats |
| He added that Mr Brown had been setting the agenda since he became prime minister "with consensus and with very active Cabinet meetings". | He added that Mr Brown had been setting the agenda since he became prime minister "with consensus and with very active Cabinet meetings". |
| "The result is shown, I think, in the overwhelming public support for Gordon and for the party," he added. | "The result is shown, I think, in the overwhelming public support for Gordon and for the party," he added. |
| On Wednesday, ministers were told that Labour's private polling in key marginal seats showed the party had a strong lead over the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats. | On Wednesday, ministers were told that Labour's private polling in key marginal seats showed the party had a strong lead over the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats. |
| And although the party's financial position remained "relatively difficult", it was felt that "if we needed to go for it, we could", the source added. | And although the party's financial position remained "relatively difficult", it was felt that "if we needed to go for it, we could", the source added. |
| On Thursday, there was a swing to Labour in a local council by-election in Worcester, seen as a key marginal the Tories would have to win in a general election to stand a chance of forming a government. | On Thursday, there was a swing to Labour in a local council by-election in Worcester, seen as a key marginal the Tories would have to win in a general election to stand a chance of forming a government. |
| 'Vision' | 'Vision' |
| Labour's campaign coordinator, Douglas Alexander said the party had to use its conference, which gets underway on Sunday, to show "we've got to show that we have the vision to change the country for the better". | Labour's campaign coordinator, Douglas Alexander said the party had to use its conference, which gets underway on Sunday, to show "we've got to show that we have the vision to change the country for the better". |
| He said the party's priority should be "talking about the issues that matter to the country, not talking amongst ourselves as we have in the past". | He said the party's priority should be "talking about the issues that matter to the country, not talking amongst ourselves as we have in the past". |
| But the preparations have not been without difficulties - Mr Brown has been accused of "closing down debate" after motions submitted for its conference were ruled out of order. | But the preparations have not been without difficulties - Mr Brown has been accused of "closing down debate" after motions submitted for its conference were ruled out of order. |
| Some Labour MPs, constituency parties and unions are set to appeal to the party to reinstate the motions that were due for discussion next week. | Some Labour MPs, constituency parties and unions are set to appeal to the party to reinstate the motions that were due for discussion next week. |
| Northern Rock | Northern Rock |
| There will be a vote on Sunday but party officials are reportedly confident the leadership will get its way. | There will be a vote on Sunday but party officials are reportedly confident the leadership will get its way. |
| Sunday will also see a speech by Chancellor Alistair Darling - under pressure over his handling of the Northern Rock crisis. | Sunday will also see a speech by Chancellor Alistair Darling - under pressure over his handling of the Northern Rock crisis. |
| The party leadership is also likely to face renewed calls for a referendum on the EU constitutional treaty after the TUC backed such a vote. | The party leadership is also likely to face renewed calls for a referendum on the EU constitutional treaty after the TUC backed such a vote. |
| Trade unionists are also angry about public sector pay restraints. | Trade unionists are also angry about public sector pay restraints. |
| Meanwhile, ministers have reportedly been told to limit their speeches to seven minutes to allow more time for contributions from delegates. | Meanwhile, ministers have reportedly been told to limit their speeches to seven minutes to allow more time for contributions from delegates. |
| The rule will not apply to Gordon Brown, who is due to continue the tradition he established as chancellor of addressing conference on Monday, with the day's theme billed in the conference agenda as "general election". | The rule will not apply to Gordon Brown, who is due to continue the tradition he established as chancellor of addressing conference on Monday, with the day's theme billed in the conference agenda as "general election". |