Brown seeks to take on critics

2008-09-23 10:07

Manchester - Britain's faltering leader Gordon Brown plans to take on his critics - in his governing Labour Party and among the public - as he seeks to use a major speech on Tuesday to revive his political fortunes.

In an address to his party's annual rally in the northern England city of Manchester, Brown is likely to concede that his 15-month leadership hasn't gone exactly as planned. But he will pledge to prove his credentials by guiding Britain through the global economic downturn.

Since replacing Prime Minister Tony Blair last June, Brown has seen his party beaten badly in a series of special elections, lose control of London's City Hall to the main opposition Conservatives and slump in the opinion polls.

Analysts predict Brown's Labour Party will suffer a heavy defeat in Britain's next national election, which must be called by mid-2010.

Dissidents in his party have urged Brown to quit, but his likely replacements have held their fire and pledged loyalty at a time of economic turmoil.

Blair's ex-deputy John Prescott said he is convinced Brown will survive as leader.

"He's the best man to deal with the kind of global problems we've got," he told the Associated Press. "There isn't another politician on the international scene at the moment that has the experience and time dealing with global problems whether climate, or economic," he said.

In his speech, Brown, who was Treasury chief for 10 years under Blair, is likely to emphasise his economic experience.

However, an outstanding address might not be enough for Brown to hold on to his job for long, with a tricky special election pending in Scotland and new battles ahead over unpopular terrorism laws.

"We need someone else in power because he's not doing very well," Phil Woolley, a 25-year-old voter in Manchester's Cheetham Hill district said on Monday. "All my friends are losing jobs when they shouldn't be ... and things are going up that I can't afford, like petrol."

The rising prices of gas, food and fuel have angered the British public, already worried by falling house prices, rising inflation and predictions that the UK economy is tumbling toward recession.

Ex-Home Secretary Charles Clarke, Brown's highest profile critic, said on Sunday that whatever the impact of Brown's speech, the the prime minister should quit.

"I'm very sceptical personally about his capacity to pull it around," Clarke said.

- AP