Brown will move local elections to avoid double defeat

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The Prime Minister intends to fight critics next month with a strategy to include a possible Cabinet reshuffle, speeches to the TUC and Labour conference and a pre-Budget report giveaway to low and middle earners.

But the Standard has learned that a key part of the plan is delaying the May local elections next year to coincide with the European elections in June. By combining both polls, Brown would face one national defeat rather than two and give rebels less time to mobilise ahead of next year's summer recess.

Cabinet minister Yvette Cooper today began the offensive with an attack on the "Cameronomics" of the Tories, while Blairite minister Andy Burnham warned off colleagues who were "jostling" to succeed Mr Brown.

Despite his 20-point deficit in the polls and the likely loss of another by-election in Glenrothes, friends of Mr Brown hope the "autumn push" will end leadership doubts.