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We can turn it round, says Brown PM considers Afghan troops boost
(about 5 hours later)
Prime Minister Gordon Brown has told the BBC he can still "turn it round" to win an historic fourth term for Labour. Downing Street says the prime minister is "open-minded" about whether more UK troops are needed in Afghanistan.
He denied that the Sun newspaper switch to backing the Tories had derailed his last conference before an election. A spokesman said any increase depended on the right strategy being in place and the necessary equipment being available for personnel.
A YouGov poll for Sky News put Labour on 30%, compared with the Tories' 37% and Lib Dems' 21%, suggesting a boost from Mr Brown's speech on Tuesday. And Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth told the BBC that equipment did not "come from Marks and Spencer" and took time to procure.
Mr Brown has sought to present Labour as the "underdogs" at a conference the party has dubbed "operation fightback". Mr Ainsworth will make a speech to the Labour conference later on Afghanistan.
He also unveiled a string of new policies - including more free childcare for poor families paid for by ending tax breaks for the better-off and a crackdown on anti-social behaviour - in an attempt to convince voters Labour has not run out of ideas. 'Complex process'
Afghanistan Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Mr Ainsworth said there were "some difficult decisions to take" in the coming months over whether to scale back Britain's ambitions in Afghanistan.
A YouGov daily tracker poll for Sky News suggested Labour was on 30%, compared with 37% for the Tories. The Lib Dems were on 21% according to the research, which was carried out on Monday and Tuesday. He said that if the UK was to respond to the call from the US for more troops then "other nations have to step up to the plate too" - a demand echoed by Downing Street.
Asked in an interview to be broadcast on BBC local radio if he could "turn it round" in time for a general election, Mr Brown replied: "Yes. Because I think people know that the action we are taking on the recession is still to yield all the results we want - but it will take us through the recession." And he added that any commitment to boost numbers would only be made if the government was "absolutely certain" they would have the right equipment.
False claims don't just damage the government; they risk damaging the morale of both our troops and the public Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth attacks the Conservatives "Yes, we want to be part of a very important coalition... but we also have to be mindful of our ability to supply our own troops," he said.
He said voters would see that "the vision of the future that we have for Britain is about the hard working majority" - and that they would "see through" the Conservatives, who he claimed were like the Tory Party of the 1990s "that caused so much damage". Having the best armed forces in the world does not come without human cost Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth
The final day of conference will see speeches from Foreign Secretary David Miliband and Labour deputy leader Harriet Harman, who will attempt to lift the morale of activists with a closing address. "The kit and equipment they need to do this job doesn't come from Marks and Spencer. It has to be ordered through a very complex procurement process."
But most attention is likely to focus on Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth's speech, in which he is expected to set out the government's latest position on the war in Afghanistan. Number 10 said any increase in numbers would also depend on there being a new and effective Afghan government in place, prepared to provide more local troops and tackle political corruption.
He will say "the public rightly ask why are we there" and answer by saying "the risk of leaving Afghanistan before the job is finished is stark... the terrorists would be characterised as the winners; we would be the losers". Mr Ainsworth's speech comes on the final day of the Labour conference in Brighton and in it he will say that "the risk of leaving Afghanistan before the job is finished is stark... the terrorists would be characterised as the winners; we would be the losers".
He will repeat Gordon Brown's pledge to have a more ambitious target of training the Afghan army but add: "Having the best armed forces in the world does not come without human cost."He will repeat Gordon Brown's pledge to have a more ambitious target of training the Afghan army but add: "Having the best armed forces in the world does not come without human cost."
He will also launch a strongly-worded attack on the Conservatives for criticising alleged equipment shortages. The defence secretary is also expected to launch a strongly-worded attack on the Conservatives for criticising alleged equipment shortages.
"False claims don't just damage the government; they risk damaging the morale of both our troops and the public. They risk damaging the mission," he will say."False claims don't just damage the government; they risk damaging the morale of both our troops and the public. They risk damaging the mission," he will say.
'See through'
Gordon Brown will be hoping for a positive end to the conference after denying that the Sun's switch to backing the Tories had derailed his plans.
The newspaper cited Afghanistan - and in particular alleged shortages of vital equipment - as a key reason for abandoning Labour.
Despite this, the PM told BBC local radio he could still "turn it round" to win an historic fourth term in government.
The Sun cited Afghanistan as a key reason for abandoning Labour
He said voters would see that "the vision of the future that we have for Britain is about the hard working majority" - and that they would "see through" the Conservatives, who he claimed were like the Tory Party of the 1990s "that caused so much damage".
Mr Brown spoke as a YouGov poll for Sky News suggested Labour wer on 30%, compared with the Tories' 37% and Lib Dems' 21%, suggesting a boost from his speech on Tuesday.
The final day of conference will see speeches from Foreign Secretary David Miliband and Labour deputy leader Harriet Harman, who will attempt to lift the morale of activists with a closing address.
Meanwhile, General Stanley McChrystal, the US commander of NATO forces in Afghanistan, will give a speech in London on Thursday.Meanwhile, General Stanley McChrystal, the US commander of NATO forces in Afghanistan, will give a speech in London on Thursday.
He has already told the US government that the situation is serious, but that success is achievable with the right strategy and additional resources.He has already told the US government that the situation is serious, but that success is achievable with the right strategy and additional resources.