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PM in pledge 'to halve deficit' Darling frustrated by Labour mood
(about 1 hour later)
Gordon Brown has told a paper that he will halve the Treasury's deficit in four years, on the eve of his party's autumn conference. The Chancellor, Alistair Darling, has spoken of his frustration at a collapse in Labour morale, on the eve of the party's conference.
In an interview with the News of the World the prime minister said he could get the economy under control without massive cuts. In an interview for the Observer newspaper, he says the entire Labour hierarchy appears to have "lost the will to live".
Mr Brown was greeted by cheering Labour activists as he arrived in Brighton for the conference on Saturday. Meanwhile, the Prime Minister has fought back against critics of the government's handling of the economy.
And Welsh Secretary Peter Hain said Labour must expose the Tories. He has promised a new legal commitment to halving the public debt by 2015.
In the newspaper interview the prime minister makes the pledge to cut the deficit but says: "We should protect frontline services and continue to invest in a high growth, high employment future." In the newspaper interview, Mr Darling accuses Labour - from the Prime Minister and himself down - of appearing to concede the advantage to the Conservatives without a fight.
Chancellor Alistair Darling has also pledged to halve the country's £175 billion deficit within four years. "From the prime minister, the chancellor, every government minister. It is all our responsibilities," he says.
In a separate interview in the Sunday Telegraph Mr Brown said he wanted to represent the interests of the UK's "squeezed middle classes" affected by the recession. He likens the party to a losing football team who have allowed their heads to drop well before the final whistle.
"We don't look as if we have got fire in our bellies. We have got to come out fighting," he adds.
'Understand problems'
Mr Brown said in an interview with the News of the World that he could get the economy under control without massive cuts.
As well as making the pledge to cut the deficit he says: "We should protect frontline services and continue to invest in a high growth, high employment future."
In a separate interview in the Sunday Telegraph, Mr Brown said he wanted to represent the interests of the UK's "squeezed middle classes" affected by the recession.
"These are the people who I identify with and understand the problems they face," he told the paper."These are the people who I identify with and understand the problems they face," he told the paper.
'Easy ride' And Welsh Secretary Peter Hain said Labour must "expose" the Tories.
In an earlier interview, Mr Hain said: "We need to get off the back foot, we've been there for too long, and get on the front foot and start putting our policies forward and also start exposing the Tories. In an earlier interview, he said: "We need to get off the back foot, we've been there for too long, and get on the front foot and start putting our policies forward.
"They've had such an easy ride from everybody, yet their policies would wreck the recovery that is now in sight because they would mount massive, swingeing, savage - in their words - public spending cuts.""They've had such an easy ride from everybody, yet their policies would wreck the recovery that is now in sight because they would mount massive, swingeing, savage - in their words - public spending cuts."
Schools Secretary Ed Balls insisted the prime minister's "authentic" approach would find favour with voters. Conference plans
But ex-deputy PM John Prescott has accused Labour MPs of defeatism. Mr Brown was greeted by cheering Labour activists as he arrived in Brighton for the party's last conference before the next General Election.
Accompanied by wife Sarah, a beaming Mr Brown shook hands with his deputy, Harriet Harman, and Labour General Secretary Ray Collins as he arrived at his hotel in Brighton. Accompanied by his wife Sarah, a beaming Mr Brown shook hands with his deputy, Harriet Harman, and Labour General Secretary Ray Collins as he arrived at his hotel in Brighton.
The prime minister said nothing to waiting reporters.The prime minister said nothing to waiting reporters.
We've got a whole bank of MPs, but everybody seems despondent John Prescott Speedier tests for cancer planned
BBC political correspondent Iain Watson said the prime minister still had to convince some delegates he was the right man to lead Labour into the poll.BBC political correspondent Iain Watson said the prime minister still had to convince some delegates he was the right man to lead Labour into the poll.
Senior Labour figures have also indicated the prime minister may hold a television debate with opposition leaders during the general election campaign - a move which Conservative leader David Cameron said he would welcome.Senior Labour figures have also indicated the prime minister may hold a television debate with opposition leaders during the general election campaign - a move which Conservative leader David Cameron said he would welcome.
Stop complaining and get campaigning John Prescott Speedier tests for cancer planned
Mr Brown is expected to unveil in his speech on Tuesday a promise that patients in England will get key cancer tests within two weeks of seeing their GP.Mr Brown is expected to unveil in his speech on Tuesday a promise that patients in England will get key cancer tests within two weeks of seeing their GP.
His aides say he will pledge that GPs in England will get speedier access to diagnostic tests to help spot less clear-cut cancer cases.His aides say he will pledge that GPs in England will get speedier access to diagnostic tests to help spot less clear-cut cancer cases.
The policy will be funded from savings worth £1bn from the NHS's capital budget over five years.The policy will be funded from savings worth £1bn from the NHS's capital budget over five years.
Our correspondent added the prime minister is also expected to claim credit for economic recovery during his address to delegates.Our correspondent added the prime minister is also expected to claim credit for economic recovery during his address to delegates.
The conference follows a summer in which Mr Brown has faced criticism for writing a letter of congratulations to England's victorious Ashes cricket team while keeping silent on the release of the Lockerbie bomber Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed al Megrahi.The conference follows a summer in which Mr Brown has faced criticism for writing a letter of congratulations to England's victorious Ashes cricket team while keeping silent on the release of the Lockerbie bomber Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed al Megrahi.
The former Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott has urged Labour supporters to "stop complaining and get campaigning".The former Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott has urged Labour supporters to "stop complaining and get campaigning".
At Go Fourth rally he said he had launched his campaign to secure a fourth term in office for Labour when, "miserable beggars were saying we should get rid of Gordon Brown." At the "Go Fourth" rally he said he had launched his campaign to secure a fourth term in office for Labour when "miserable beggars were saying we should get rid of Gordon Brown."
He said: "They were wrong then and they are wrong now."He said: "They were wrong then and they are wrong now."
A poll for News of the World found more than half of those surveyed still thought Mr Brown could win the next election. A poll for the News of the World found more than half of those surveyed still thought Mr Brown could win the next election.
Some 11% said Labour has a good chance of winning with Brown and 48% said it has a slim chance, but 41% think it probably has no chance/definitely have no chance, the ICM Research on 1,003 adults found.Some 11% said Labour has a good chance of winning with Brown and 48% said it has a slim chance, but 41% think it probably has no chance/definitely have no chance, the ICM Research on 1,003 adults found.