Brown: 'I take responsibility for Labour's woes... but the global economy's also to blame'

Gordon Brown took personal responsibility for Labour's woes yesterday, as fresh evidence emerged that he is heading for a general election wipeout.

He accepted that he was answerable for the economic downturn and the Government's unpopularity that have left a question mark over his future.

The Prime Minister used his first press conference after the summer break to step up his message of defiance in the face of widespread criticisms of his performance.

'I am the person who is in charge and I have got to take responsibility for what happens,' he said, adding: 'I do take responsibility for the economy.'

He dismissed as 'summer talk' reports that he has fallen out with Alistair Darling, and insisted they were 'getting down to business'.

Mr Brown appeared at ease as he unveiled his £1 billion plan for helping low-income households with their utility bills.

But he was repeatedly confronted with Labour fears that the party's dire standing in the polls is being blamed by the public on him.

Defending his decision to call off a snap election last autumn, Mr Brown said he wanted to show that he could help the country through the economic downturn.

'I made the right decision last autumn. We can take people through these difficult circumstances and that's what we are going to do,' he said.

But a poll of marginal constituencies for Channel Four News suggested that the Tories could hope for a 12 per cent swing in their favour at the next election, enough to give them a landslide win and a Commons majority of 120.

A majority of those interviewed by YouGov for Channel Four also agreed that Mr Brown was 'out of touch', 'indecisive' and 'incompetent'.

In a separate poll for the Times newspaper two thirds of those who responded - 67pc - said they will want a change of Government even if the economy recovers, fuelling Labour fears that the public is now ready to ditch the party and back the Tories.

The Populus survey also found that 74 per cent of people think Mr Brown is a bad Prime Minister, with only 23 per cent saying he is good at his job.

Mr Brown claimed the British voters understood that Britain's economic difficulties were caused by the global credit crunch and the hike in petrol prices.

'If you go around the world, you will see that every country is affected,' he said.

'We have entered into over these last few months one of the most difficult economic circumstances.

'We have got the combination of high oil prices and we have got the combination of the credit crunch.

'My view is that it is better to show people that we can take people through these difficult circumstances and that's what we are going to do.'

Mr Brown said he would be telling Labour delegates at the party's annual conference this month that the Government was on the side of hard-working families.

'My message to the whole country is the same as to the Labour Party, which is that when you face challenging economic times, you get on with the job,' he said.