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Brown launches Labour fightback Brown in election plea to voters
(about 1 hour later)
Gordon Brown has urged voters to take a second look at Labour as he unveiled his election campaign themes. Gordon Brown has urged voters to take a "second look" at Labour as he unveiled his election campaign themes.
Labour will campaign under the theme "a future fair for all", he said, at a rally in Coventry.Labour will campaign under the theme "a future fair for all", he said, at a rally in Coventry.
He accused the Tories of being down to a "team of one" and said Labour's election weapon was "our beliefs". He said Labour would be the "change makers" and attacked the Tories who he said would put the economy "at risk".
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 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".
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.
'Team of one''Team of one'
Mr Brown opened his speech by paying tribute to senior cabinet ministers including Harriet Harman and Lord Mandelson - saying he was proud to be part of an "experienced" team - while the Conservatives were down to a "team of one".Mr Brown opened his speech by paying tribute to senior cabinet ministers including Harriet Harman and Lord Mandelson - saying he was proud to be part of an "experienced" team - while the Conservatives were down to a "team of one".
Setting out his future aims, Mr Brown said: "First, we must secure the recovery, not put it at risk. Second, we must support new industries and future jobs.Setting out his future aims, Mr Brown said: "First, we must secure the recovery, not put it at risk. Second, we must support new industries and future jobs.
I know that Labour hasn't done everything right and I know, really I know, I'm not perfect Gordon Brown ANALYSIS Iain Watson, BBC political correspondent
The event resembled a Jerry Springer-style chat show; with an invited audience of "real people" and a few audience "plants" - in this case cabinet members.
The PM said "I'm not perfect" and asked people to take a second look at Labour, effectively admitting that Labour, and perhaps his leadership, had alienated some supporters.
And there was plenty of abuse with an across-the-board attack on Conservative policies.
But this negative campaigning jarred a little with the unveiling of Labour's election slogan - A Future Fair For All.
This is meant to encompass floating voters' desire for a more optimistic future.
Indeed the anti-Tory tone was more in tune with the slogan on literature sent to Labour members - Operation Fightback.
This makes it clear Labour will fight the election offering change not just continuity.
Voters will be able to pass a verdict on whether that is credible after 13 years of a Labour government.
"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.""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."
Appealing to former Labour voters who might have deserted the party, Mr Brown urged them to take a "hard look" at Conservative policies, which he said would put the recovery at risk and hurt ordinary families. Appealing to former Labour voters who might have deserted the party, Mr Brown urged them to take a "long, hard look" at Conservative policies, which he said would put the recovery at risk and hurt ordinary families.
Families who wanted to "get on and not simply get by" should "take a second look at us and take a long hard look at them," he said. Families who wanted to "get on and not simply get by" should "take a second look at us and take a long, hard look at them," he said.
Attempted coup
He said Labour's "secret weapon" for the election would be its "beliefs" and the election would be won not on "who has the best PR" but on "values".
In an apparent reference to doubts within Labour about his own leadership - following an attempted coup by two former cabinet ministers in January - the prime minister admitted: "I know that Labour hasn't done everything right and I know, really I know, I'm not perfect".In an apparent reference to doubts within Labour about his own leadership - following an attempted coup by two former cabinet ministers in January - the prime minister admitted: "I know that Labour hasn't done everything right and I know, really I know, I'm not perfect".
"But I know where I come from and I know what I stand for and I know who I came into politics to represent.""But I know where I come from and I know what I stand for and I know who I came into politics to represent."
Chancellor Alistair Darling, Business Secretary Lord Mandelson, Home Secretary Alan Johnson and Chief Secretary to the Treasury Yvette Cooper also spoke at the event. There had been speculation that an election date might be announced at the speech but while Mr Brown told the audience there were 76 campaigning days left - he added he was referring to the local elections.
It is widely expected that the general election will also be called for 6 May - and all the main parties have been stepping up their campaigning efforts.
The Conservatives have already begun their poster campaign but Mr Brown said Labour's "secret weapon" would be its "beliefs" and the election would be won not on "who has the best PR" but on "values".
'Change' claims
He also attacked Conservative leader David Cameron's call for voters to make 2010 "the year for change" after 13 years of a Labour government.
Mr Brown told supporters Labour were the "change makers" and the opposition were still committed to the "old Conservative economics of the past".
"How can they be the party of change when they haven't even changed themselves?" he said.
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
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 full Labour manifesto will be launched at a later date. The party has been using its members to call thousands of voters in marginal seats.
Mr Brown told them the election would be fought "street by street, school gate by school gate, work place by work place and it's going to be won by you".
The full Labour manifesto will be launched later.
The Conservatives attacked Labour's "fair future" slogan - releasing a list of 10 policies they say has made Britain "unfair" - including Mr Brown's controversial decision to abolish the 10p tax rate and its record on social mobility.
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".
'That's not fairness''That's not fairness'
"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 party 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."