This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk_politics/6606827.stm

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Voters 'less grumpy' says Straw Voters 'less grumpy' says Straw
(10 minutes later)
Voters are "less grumpy than they were last year" with the government, Leader of the Commons Jack Straw has said, three days before the 2007 elections.Voters are "less grumpy than they were last year" with the government, Leader of the Commons Jack Straw has said, three days before the 2007 elections.
He said from his own experience "on the doorstep" that people were "willing to think more about what we have achieved" during Labour's decade in government. He told the BBC his own experience "on the doorstep" found people "willing to think more about what we have achieved" during Labour's decade in government.
However, Mr Straw was reluctant to speculate on Labour's poll chances.However, Mr Straw was reluctant to speculate on Labour's poll chances.
The elections are for the Scottish Parliament, Welsh assembly and many councils in England and Scotland.The elections are for the Scottish Parliament, Welsh assembly and many councils in England and Scotland.
They are willing to think more about what we have achieved. Let's see on Friday morning how we do Jack StrawCommons leader
Asked about the poor performance predicted for Labour this week, he told BBC Radio 4's Today: "We are in mid-term. I think we have done phenomenally well at this stage after 10 years, with a record that Labour activists would have died for in previous decades - and so would Conservative ones.
"I don't know how we are going to do in the local elections, but my own reaction on the doorstep is that people are less grumpy than they were last year.
"They are willing to think more about what we have achieved. Let's see on Friday morning how we do."
Mr Straw, who is Gordon Brown's campaign manager for the contest to succeed Tony Blair as Labour leader and prime minister, said he did not know yet whether there would be a contest.
He said Mr Brown would welcome a challenge "but in any event, he intends to use that period to talk about his philosophy, the things that he celebrates about the last 10 years and about New Labour and the things that he will do in his own distinctive way".