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Miliband defends Brown leadership Miliband defends Brown leadership
(about 1 hour later)
David Miliband has urged Labour to rally behind Prime Minister Gordon Brown, who is facing fresh criticism of his leadership style.David Miliband has urged Labour to rally behind Prime Minister Gordon Brown, who is facing fresh criticism of his leadership style.
The foreign secretary told The Andrew Marr Show it would be "fatal" if the party "failed to defend the leader". The Foreign Secretary told the Andrew Marr show it would be "fatal" if the party "failed to defend the leader".
It comes after Lord Levy, Tony Blair's ex-fundraiser, told a newspaper Mr Blair believed Mr Brown was not capable of beating Tory leader David Cameron.It comes after Lord Levy, Tony Blair's ex-fundraiser, told a newspaper Mr Blair believed Mr Brown was not capable of beating Tory leader David Cameron.
A spokesman for Mr Blair denied the ex-PM had expressed such a view.A spokesman for Mr Blair denied the ex-PM had expressed such a view.
Lord Levy, who was at the centre of cash-for-honours allegations, also attacked the "lack of strong leadership" in the Labour Party.Lord Levy, who was at the centre of cash-for-honours allegations, also attacked the "lack of strong leadership" in the Labour Party.
In his memoirs, which are being serialised in The Mail on Sunday, Lord Levy writes that Mr Blair "told me on several occasions he was convinced Gordon 'could never beat Cameron'".In his memoirs, which are being serialised in The Mail on Sunday, Lord Levy writes that Mr Blair "told me on several occasions he was convinced Gordon 'could never beat Cameron'".
'Winning personality''Winning personality'
The newspaper quotes the peer as saying Mr Blair claimed he was convinced he could win a fourth term if he stayed on at Number 10.The newspaper quotes the peer as saying Mr Blair claimed he was convinced he could win a fourth term if he stayed on at Number 10.
"But Gordon? 'He can't defeat Cameron,' Tony told me," Lord Levy writes. "But Gordon? 'He can't defeat Cameron,' Tony told me. Blair believed Cameron had major strengths - political timing, a winning personality and a natural ability to communicate to Middle England that Gordon would be unable ever to match."
"Blair believed Cameron had major strengths - political timing, a winning personality and a natural ability to communicate to Middle England that Gordon would be unable ever to match." He doesn't agree with the views attributed to him by Lord Levy and fully believes Labour with Gordon Brown's leadership can win the next election Tony Blair's spokesman class="" href="/1/hi/uk_politics/7369437.stm">Levy attacks Brown leadership
He doesn't agree with the views attributed to him by Lord Levy and fully believes Labour with Gordon Brown's leadership can win the next election Tony Blair's spokesman Levy attacks Brown leadershipCameron 'to stand up for poor'
Lord Levy denied any wrongdoing over cash-for-honours allegations and no charges were brought against him or anyone else.Lord Levy denied any wrongdoing over cash-for-honours allegations and no charges were brought against him or anyone else.
A spokesman for Mr Blair insisted the ex-PM was fully behind Mr Brown and believed he could win the next general election.A spokesman for Mr Blair insisted the ex-PM was fully behind Mr Brown and believed he could win the next general election.
"Tony Blair said when he stood down that he would be 100% loyal to Gordon Brown and that continues to be the case."Tony Blair said when he stood down that he would be 100% loyal to Gordon Brown and that continues to be the case.
"He doesn't agree with the views attributed to him by Lord Levy and fully believes Labour with Gordon Brown's leadership can win the next election.""He doesn't agree with the views attributed to him by Lord Levy and fully believes Labour with Gordon Brown's leadership can win the next election."
'Fight back''Fight back'
Mr Miliband also threw his weight behind the prime minister - and denied the government had suffered a collapse in morale.Mr Miliband also threw his weight behind the prime minister - and denied the government had suffered a collapse in morale.
Asked by Andrew Marr if Mr Brown would have to step down if Labour suffered heavy losses at Thursday's local elections, Mr Miliband replied "No, definitely not." Asked by Andrew Marr if Mr Brown would have to step down if Labour suffered heavy losses at Thursday's local elections, Mr Miliband replied "No, absolutely not."
He said the party had to "fight back" against the "mid-term blues" and could not afford to "roll over and say 'we have had enough'".He said the party had to "fight back" against the "mid-term blues" and could not afford to "roll over and say 'we have had enough'".
Lord Levy said he was 'disappointed' by Labour's recent slide
He said: "We always knew this was going to be a very tough year because it's the mid-term of third term and we have got a world economic situation that is very, very difficult indeed.He said: "We always knew this was going to be a very tough year because it's the mid-term of third term and we have got a world economic situation that is very, very difficult indeed.
"And I think this is a test of character really as well as a test of policy."And I think this is a test of character really as well as a test of policy.
"We know what's fatal - if we fail to defend the leader, if we lose sight of our core convictions, of we don't follow through on what we have started.""We know what's fatal - if we fail to defend the leader, if we lose sight of our core convictions, of we don't follow through on what we have started."
Mandelson call 'Agents of change'
He said the government had to "keep very close to the concerns of voters and that's why the decision this week about the 10p rate was right".He said the government had to "keep very close to the concerns of voters and that's why the decision this week about the 10p rate was right".
But it also had to "tell a story and understand where this country stands in the world because actually British decline is over" and be the "the agents of change in politics" even though that was "difficult" after 10 years in power.But it also had to "tell a story and understand where this country stands in the world because actually British decline is over" and be the "the agents of change in politics" even though that was "difficult" after 10 years in power.
Labour deputy leader Harriet Harman also weighed in, telling Sky News it was "rubbish" to suggest Labour MPs wanted to get rid of Mr Brown, adding "It's time for a very serious leader and that is exactly what Gordon Brown is". Tory leader David Cameron told the same programme he expected Mr Brown to delay a general election if the Tories continued to do well in the polls.
European trade commissioner Peter Mandelson, a close ally of Mr Blair, warned Labour to "pull itself together and refocus".
The former cabinet minister dismissed Lord Levy's claim that Mr Blair thought Mr Brown could not win the next election - saying he had been 100% loyal.
Tory poll lead
Tory leader David Cameron told the Andrew Marr show he expected Mr Brown to delay a general election if the Tories continued to do well in the polls.
He also pledged to stand up for low paid families - saying the government's decision to scrap the 10p tax rate showed that Labour was prepared to abandon its traditional supporters.He also pledged to stand up for low paid families - saying the government's decision to scrap the 10p tax rate showed that Labour was prepared to abandon its traditional supporters.
But he stressed he would not be distracted by a new opinion poll suggesting he will become prime minister with a strong majority at the next general election. "What I want to say to people like that is, you know, we are there for you. I will try and keep your taxes down. If you do the right thing and save I will try and help you."
He stressed he would not be distracted by a new opinion poll suggesting he will become prime minister with a strong majority at the next general election.
The ICM survey for the News of the World suggests 131 Labour MPs would be ejected from the Commons in favour of their Conservative challengers.The ICM survey for the News of the World suggests 131 Labour MPs would be ejected from the Commons in favour of their Conservative challengers.
The findings point to a 9% swing from Labour to the Tories, giving Mr Cameron a 64-seat majority.The findings point to a 9% swing from Labour to the Tories, giving Mr Cameron a 64-seat majority.
But another poll by ICM, for The Sunday Telegraph, puts the Tories on 39% nationally, 10 points ahead of Labour on 29% and the Lib Dems on 20%.
It suggests a shortening lead for the Conservatives, who had an 18-point lead in a survey by the same organisation last week.