Gordon Brown routinely telephones voters at home to talk about Labour policy, Downing Street has confirmed.
Gordon Brown routinely telephones voters at home to talk about Labour policy, Downing Street has confirmed.
Press reports said the prime minister asked the No 10 switchboard to put him through to people who had written or e-mailed with concerns.
Press reports said the prime minister asked the No 10 switchboard to put him through to people who had written or e-mailed with concerns.
PR Week claimed it was part of a new campaign to generate positive "word of mouth" about Mr Brown.
PR Week claimed it was part of a new campaign to generate positive "word of mouth" about Mr Brown.
But No 10 said he had always called voters personally - and denied claims he had telephoned one man at 6am.
But No 10 said he had always called voters personally - and denied claims he had telephoned one man at 6am.
A Downing Street official said: "The PM takes a great interest in correspondence that comes in.
A Downing Street official said: "The PM takes a great interest in correspondence that comes in.
"He likes to keep in touch with voters who take the trouble to contact him."
"He likes to keep in touch with voters who take the trouble to contact him."
Early riser
Early riser
It is not unusual for senior politicians to call voters at home, although the practice tends to be restricted to election campaigns.
It is not unusual for senior politicians to call voters at home, although the practice tends to be restricted to election campaigns.
According to PR Week, which has run a number of stories from "Downing Street insiders" in recent months, Mr Brown's strategy chief Stephen Carter came up with the idea as part of an effort to "humanise" him.
According to PR Week, which has run a number of stories from "Downing Street insiders" in recent months, Mr Brown's strategy chief Stephen Carter came up with the idea as part of an effort to "humanise" him.
A letter or e-mail would be chosen at random, a response prepared and then Mr Brown would call, the magazine quoted an insider as saying.
A letter or e-mail would be chosen at random, a response prepared and then Mr Brown would call, the magazine quoted an insider as saying.
It claims the tactic backfired once when Mr Brown, a well-known early riser, called a member of the public at 6am. The recipient was, fortunately, a shift worker who happened to be up. The story has been firmly denied by Downing Street.
It claims the tactic backfired once when Mr Brown, a well-known early riser, called a member of the public at 6am. The recipient was, fortunately, a shift worker who happened to be up. The story has been firmly denied by Downing Street.
Poll slump
Former Home Secretary David Blunkett said he thought calling voters at home was good way to stay in touch with their concerns.
He told BBC News: "I would be quite pleased if I were a member of the public and prime minister was on the phone. Not necessarily very early because I don't warm to that - but actually listening to people and being able to respond."
The revelation comes as a new poll suggests Labour's popularity with voters is lower than during Michael Foot's leadership in the early 1980s.
The revelation comes as a new poll suggests Labour's popularity with voters is lower than during Michael Foot's leadership in the early 1980s.
The YouGov poll for the Daily Telegraph puts Labour on 23% - 24 points behind the Conservatives on 47%. The Liberal Democrats are on 18 points.
The YouGov poll for the Daily Telegraph puts Labour on 23% - 24 points behind the Conservatives on 47%. The Liberal Democrats are on 18 points.
Have you received a call from a politician? What do you think about politicians calling voters at home? Would you welcome a call from Gordon Brown? Send us your comments using the form below:
Have you received a call from a politician? What do you think about politicians calling voters at home? Would you welcome a call from Gordon Brown? Send us your comments using the form below:
