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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Brown 'fears double poll defeat' | Brown 'fears double poll defeat' |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Gordon Brown wants to hold next year's European and English local elections on the same day because he is "terrified" of a double defeat, the Tories say. | Gordon Brown wants to hold next year's European and English local elections on the same day because he is "terrified" of a double defeat, the Tories say. |
| The government is consulting on running two polls on the same day next June, saying this will save money and avoid confusion among voters. | The government is consulting on running two polls on the same day next June, saying this will save money and avoid confusion among voters. |
| But shadow local government minister Bob Neill said the prime minister was "running scared". | But shadow local government minister Bob Neill said the prime minister was "running scared". |
| The dates were combined in 2004, the last time European elections were held. | The dates were combined in 2004, the last time European elections were held. |
| The Department of Communities and Local Government is looking at doing so again but said a final decision had not yet been taken. | |
| A spokesperson said: "The 2004 local elections were also held on the same date as the European elections, and voter participation increased in the latter. | |
| "We want to see a modern, efficient and secure electoral system which is as convenient and as straightforward for the voter as possible... | |
| "Combining these elections could make voting more convenient and increase participation by avoiding asking electors to vote on two separate occasions in the space of four weeks. " | |
| 'Hassle-free' | 'Hassle-free' |
| It wants to move elections for 34 English councils, scheduled for 7 May, back to 4 June, to coincide with the European vote. | It wants to move elections for 34 English councils, scheduled for 7 May, back to 4 June, to coincide with the European vote. |
| The DCLG said this would help make voting "convenient and hassle-free". | The DCLG said this would help make voting "convenient and hassle-free". |
| Two separate campaigns would create "confusion for electors" and "complexities for administrators", its consultation document - put out in May - adds. | Two separate campaigns would create "confusion for electors" and "complexities for administrators", its consultation document - put out in May - adds. |
| Under the 2007 Local Government Act, ministers can change local election dates by issuing an order, rather than having to pass a new act in Parliament. | Under the 2007 Local Government Act, ministers can change local election dates by issuing an order, rather than having to pass a new act in Parliament. |
| Labour fared poorly in May's local elections and has also recently lost two parliamentary seats in by-elections, as well as the London mayoralty. | Labour fared poorly in May's local elections and has also recently lost two parliamentary seats in by-elections, as well as the London mayoralty. |
| Mr Neill said: "Gordon Brown is clearly terrified of another bad set of results in these elections. | Mr Neill said: "Gordon Brown is clearly terrified of another bad set of results in these elections. |
| "You can be sure that if he was confident of holding on to Labour seats, he would hold the local and Euro elections on separate days. | "You can be sure that if he was confident of holding on to Labour seats, he would hold the local and Euro elections on separate days. |
| "This is all about protecting Gordon's back. He is running scared and has bottled yet another election." | "This is all about protecting Gordon's back. He is running scared and has bottled yet another election." |
| Meanwhile, Downing Street has said Mr Brown is "in charge" of the country again after his three-week summer holiday. | Meanwhile, Downing Street has said Mr Brown is "in charge" of the country again after his three-week summer holiday. |
| Although the prime minister does not return from Scotland to London until Tuesday, he has taken over day-to-day running of government, a spokesman added. | Although the prime minister does not return from Scotland to London until Tuesday, he has taken over day-to-day running of government, a spokesman added. |