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Brown launches Labour 'fightback' Brown launches Labour 'fightback'
(10 minutes later)
Gordon Brown is unveiling Labour's election themes and slogan - "a future fair for all" in a speech to activists. Gordon Brown has told Labour activists "our work is not done" as he launched the party's election theme and slogan.
The PM shook supporters' hands as he arrived at the Labour rally in Coventry where he is launching what the party calls "Operation Fightback". Labour will campaign under the slogan "a future fair for all", he said, at a rally in Coventry.
Securing economic recovery and tackling the deficit are among the themes. He accused the Tories of being down to a "team of one" and said Labour's election weapon was "our beliefs".
The Lib Dems said there had been a "total failure to make Britain fairer". The Tories pledged "real change" to "put Britain back on its feet again".The Lib Dems said there had been a "total failure to make Britain fairer". The Tories pledged "real change" to "put Britain back on its feet again".
Mr Brown was welcomed by supporters but there were some hecklers as he arrived at the University of Warwick, Coventry.Mr Brown was welcomed by supporters but there were some hecklers as he arrived at the University of Warwick, Coventry.
'Secure recovery''Secure recovery'
Although he has not yet announced an election date, a 6 May poll is widely expected and all the main parties are stepping up their campaigning efforts.Although he has not yet announced an election date, a 6 May poll is widely expected and all the main parties are stepping up their campaigning efforts.
Chancellor Alistair Darling, Business Secretary Lord Mandelson, Home Secretary Alan Johnson and Chief Secretary to the Treasury Yvette Cooper are at the event where Mr Brown is unveiling four campaign themes. Chancellor Alistair Darling, Business Secretary Lord Mandelson, Home Secretary Alan Johnson and Chief Secretary to the Treasury Yvette Cooper also spoke at the event.
Mr Brown will say: "First, we must secure the recovery, not put it at risk. Second, we must support new industries and future jobs. Mr Brown said: "First, we must secure the recovery, not put it at risk. Second, we must support new industries and future jobs.
"Third, while we will reduce the deficit, we must protect and not cut frontline services. Fourth, we must stand up for the many, not the few." "Third, while we will reduce the deficit, and reduce it by half, we must protect and not cut frontline services. And fourth, we must stand up for the many, not the few."
The Tories want to kick away the ladders of opportunity, because they are not the party of Britain's mainstream majority Gordon BrownThe Tories want to kick away the ladders of opportunity, because they are not the party of Britain's mainstream majority Gordon Brown
BBC political correspondent Iain Watson said the "future fair for all" slogan was aimed at floating voters worried by the unfairness of the banking crisis, who want a sense of optimism after the recession.BBC political correspondent Iain Watson said the "future fair for all" slogan was aimed at floating voters worried by the unfairness of the banking crisis, who want a sense of optimism after the recession.
He said Mr Brown was making a plea to Labour voters who had deserted the party to come back and take a second look, as well as a hard look at the Conservatives.He said Mr Brown was making a plea to Labour voters who had deserted the party to come back and take a second look, as well as a hard look at the Conservatives.
Labour has been involved in year-long talks with US President Barack Obama's team which have influenced Labour's campaigning tactics. The party has been using its members to call thousands of voters in marginal seats.Labour has been involved in year-long talks with US President Barack Obama's team which have influenced Labour's campaigning tactics. The party has been using its members to call thousands of voters in marginal seats.
Labour election co-ordinator, Douglas Alexander, told BBC Radio 5 Live the Conservatives were ahead in the polls but were promising change without spelling out what that would involve.Labour election co-ordinator, Douglas Alexander, told BBC Radio 5 Live the Conservatives were ahead in the polls but were promising change without spelling out what that would involve.
"The Conservatives want this election simply to be a choice between change and the status quo and we're not prepared to have that contest," he said."The Conservatives want this election simply to be a choice between change and the status quo and we're not prepared to have that contest," he said.
When pressed on government figures suggesting Britain had become less fair during Labour's 13 years in power, Mr Alexander conceded that 10 years of economic growth had left the rich even wealthier.When pressed on government figures suggesting Britain had become less fair during Labour's 13 years in power, Mr Alexander conceded that 10 years of economic growth had left the rich even wealthier.
HAVE YOUR SAYSlogans have no impact on me at all. Except perhaps to put me off a political party if it happens to be too cheesy or a blatant liePaulRichard 2, Southampton Send us your commentsHAVE YOUR SAYSlogans have no impact on me at all. Except perhaps to put me off a political party if it happens to be too cheesy or a blatant liePaulRichard 2, Southampton Send us your comments
But he added that Labour had provided "significant help" to pensioners, families and the newly-unemployed, while claiming the Conservatives saw unemployment as a "price worth paying".But he added that Labour had provided "significant help" to pensioners, families and the newly-unemployed, while claiming the Conservatives saw unemployment as a "price worth paying".
"Elections are not about the record as much as about the future," he added."Elections are not about the record as much as about the future," he added.
The prime minister is telling the rally economic recovery would be put at risk under the Conservatives and accuse them of trying to steal the "progressive mantle".The prime minister is telling the rally economic recovery would be put at risk under the Conservatives and accuse them of trying to steal the "progressive mantle".
In the preface to a new Labour leaflet Mr Brown writes: "This year's election will be a big choice about the change we want for Britain. I believe that together we can build a new age of aspiration - a future fair for all.In the preface to a new Labour leaflet Mr Brown writes: "This year's election will be a big choice about the change we want for Britain. I believe that together we can build a new age of aspiration - a future fair for all.
"The Tories threaten an age of austerity - a change you can't afford.""The Tories threaten an age of austerity - a change you can't afford."
The full Labour manifesto will be launched at a later date.The full Labour manifesto will be launched at a later date.
The government and the Conservatives have clashed over how to revitalise the economy and tackle Britain's budget deficit, which is expected to reach £178bn this year.The government and the Conservatives have clashed over how to revitalise the economy and tackle Britain's budget deficit, which is expected to reach £178bn this year.
On Friday, letters from more than 60 senior economists to the Financial Times backed Chancellor Alistair Darling's decision to delay government spending cuts until 2011.On Friday, letters from more than 60 senior economists to the Financial Times backed Chancellor Alistair Darling's decision to delay government spending cuts until 2011.
But five days earlier in the Sunday Times, 20 other economists backed the Conservatives' call for cuts to be made this year.But five days earlier in the Sunday Times, 20 other economists backed the Conservatives' call for cuts to be made this year.
'Centre ground''Centre ground'
A Conservative Party statement said the Labour slogan showed "everything about where Labour themselves know they have failed".A Conservative Party statement said the Labour slogan showed "everything about where Labour themselves know they have failed".
This slogan will only remind people of Labour's total failure to make Britain fairer Danny AlexanderLiberal DemocratThis slogan will only remind people of Labour's total failure to make Britain fairer Danny AlexanderLiberal Democrat
"Instead of creating a fair society over the last 13 years, Britain has become more unfair," the Tories said."Instead of creating a fair society over the last 13 years, Britain has become more unfair," the Tories said.
"Five more years of Gordon Brown won't change anything. Only real change with the Conservatives will put Britain back on its feet again.""Five more years of Gordon Brown won't change anything. Only real change with the Conservatives will put Britain back on its feet again."
The Liberal Democrats also said the slogan would "only remind people of Labour's total failure to make Britain fairer".The Liberal Democrats also said the slogan would "only remind people of Labour's total failure to make Britain fairer".
"In Gordon Brown's Britain, social mobility is going backwards and a banker pays a lower rate of tax than their cleaner. That's not fairness," said Danny Alexander, chief of staff for Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg."In Gordon Brown's Britain, social mobility is going backwards and a banker pays a lower rate of tax than their cleaner. That's not fairness," said Danny Alexander, chief of staff for Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg.
"Gordon Brown is wrong if he thinks that slogans will make people forget Labour's failure.""Gordon Brown is wrong if he thinks that slogans will make people forget Labour's failure."