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Black Wednesday claim 'nonsense' Black Wednesday claim 'nonsense'
(10 minutes later)
Justice Secretary Jack Straw has dismissed Tory claims Labour is facing its own Black Wednesday over Northern Rock and the missing data discs crisis.Justice Secretary Jack Straw has dismissed Tory claims Labour is facing its own Black Wednesday over Northern Rock and the missing data discs crisis.
Mr Straw told Sunday AM it was "utter nonsense" to compare recent events with the pound's exit from the European Exchange Rate Mechanism in 1992.Mr Straw told Sunday AM it was "utter nonsense" to compare recent events with the pound's exit from the European Exchange Rate Mechanism in 1992.
He insisted the government was handling the current crises well and urged ministers to "hold our nerve".He insisted the government was handling the current crises well and urged ministers to "hold our nerve".
It comes as three opinion polls suggest confidence in Labour has been shaken.It comes as three opinion polls suggest confidence in Labour has been shaken.
Mr Straw said Black Wednesday - which saw confidence in John Major's government collapse leading to its defeat at the 1997 election - had been caused by "personal decisions by senior ministers," while the current problems were "external".Mr Straw said Black Wednesday - which saw confidence in John Major's government collapse leading to its defeat at the 1997 election - had been caused by "personal decisions by senior ministers," while the current problems were "external".
I don't look at opinion polls, what I do look at is, what is your record on the ground Gordon BrownI don't look at opinion polls, what I do look at is, what is your record on the ground Gordon Brown
He said they had "been managed as well as any government could have anticipated," adding that "Gordon is a very good crisis manager".He said they had "been managed as well as any government could have anticipated," adding that "Gordon is a very good crisis manager".
"The idea that this an equivalent to Black Wednesday is utter nonsense," Mr Straw told Sunday AM."The idea that this an equivalent to Black Wednesday is utter nonsense," Mr Straw told Sunday AM.
'Control freak''Control freak'
Mr Brown is reported to be widening his inner circle of advisers to include older, more experienced ministers - dubbed "greybeards" by the press - such as Mr Straw and Geoff Hoon.Mr Brown is reported to be widening his inner circle of advisers to include older, more experienced ministers - dubbed "greybeards" by the press - such as Mr Straw and Geoff Hoon.
Mr Straw rejected claims that the prime minister is a "control freak," insisting there had been a "deepening of Cabinet government" under Mr Brown.Mr Straw rejected claims that the prime minister is a "control freak," insisting there had been a "deepening of Cabinet government" under Mr Brown.
"Cabinet committees have worked, in my view, much better without any question."Cabinet committees have worked, in my view, much better without any question.
"And Gordon, far from being a control freak, has actually delegated much more than Tony Blair did to Cabinet committees and has been willing to simply go along with those decisions.""And Gordon, far from being a control freak, has actually delegated much more than Tony Blair did to Cabinet committees and has been willing to simply go along with those decisions."
It comes as opinion polls suggest the public has lost confidence in the government over its handling of Northern Rock and the loss of 25 million people's Housing Benefit records. It comes as opinion polls suggest the public has lost confidence in the government over its handling of Northern Rock and the loss of 25 million people's child benefit records.
StabilityStability
A News of the World survey of 547 people suggests 46% think the prime minister is bad in a crisis.A News of the World survey of 547 people suggests 46% think the prime minister is bad in a crisis.
And a Sunday Telegraph poll of 1,005 people suggests 50% are dissatisfied with Chancellor Alastair Darling.And a Sunday Telegraph poll of 1,005 people suggests 50% are dissatisfied with Chancellor Alastair Darling.
Mr Brown said there were events over which he had no control, but that Labour had brought economic stability.Mr Brown said there were events over which he had no control, but that Labour had brought economic stability.
He told Sky News: "I don't look at opinion polls, what I do look at is, what is your record on the ground.He told Sky News: "I don't look at opinion polls, what I do look at is, what is your record on the ground.
"And I think when people will look, whenever it is, at our record on the economy, our record on building up the NHS, our record on improving the schools - and then they'll judge us on what we have wanted to do and continue to want to do in housing, as well as in health and education - people will make their own decisions.""And I think when people will look, whenever it is, at our record on the economy, our record on building up the NHS, our record on improving the schools - and then they'll judge us on what we have wanted to do and continue to want to do in housing, as well as in health and education - people will make their own decisions."
Tory leadTory lead
According to the News of the World, Labour's 12-point poll lead over the Tories on managing the economy two months ago has been eroded, with the parties now level on 38% each.According to the News of the World, Labour's 12-point poll lead over the Tories on managing the economy two months ago has been eroded, with the parties now level on 38% each.
The poll gives Conservative leader David Cameron an eight-point lead over Mr Brown as the best leader, on 46% to 38%.The poll gives Conservative leader David Cameron an eight-point lead over Mr Brown as the best leader, on 46% to 38%.
Mr Cameron is 17 points ahead among 25-34 year-olds, the poll suggests.Mr Cameron is 17 points ahead among 25-34 year-olds, the poll suggests.
On the question of which party had the best policies and ideas for Britain, the Conservatives were 10 points ahead.On the question of which party had the best policies and ideas for Britain, the Conservatives were 10 points ahead.
Meanwhile, a Mail on Sunday poll of 1,333 people put the Conservatives on 40%, five points ahead of Labour.Meanwhile, a Mail on Sunday poll of 1,333 people put the Conservatives on 40%, five points ahead of Labour.
Northern Rock was hit by the worldwide credit freeze which left it unable to borrow money from other banks to fund its business model.Northern Rock was hit by the worldwide credit freeze which left it unable to borrow money from other banks to fund its business model.
Meanwhile, police are searching for missing computer discs containing the details of 25m Child Benefit claimants.Meanwhile, police are searching for missing computer discs containing the details of 25m Child Benefit claimants.
MSL interviewed 547 adults by telephone between 22 and 24 November for the News of the World, while ICM spoke to 1,005 voters by phone between 21 and 22 November for the Sunday Telegraph. BPIX interviewed 1,333 people online for the Mail on Sunday between Thursday and Saturday.MSL interviewed 547 adults by telephone between 22 and 24 November for the News of the World, while ICM spoke to 1,005 voters by phone between 21 and 22 November for the Sunday Telegraph. BPIX interviewed 1,333 people online for the Mail on Sunday between Thursday and Saturday.