Gordon Brown under fire for return to New Labour 'Blairism'

Gordon Brown was last night accused of doing a U-turn after he responded to claims that his Government had run out of steam by heralding a return to Tony Blair-style New Labour policies.

The Prime Minister promised tough reforms on schools, hospitals, welfare and energy as Tory leader David Cameron branded him "hopeless, incompetent, weak, exhausted and second-rate".

The two men exchanged blows in rival New Year messages amid continuing reports that Labour MPs are fed up with the way Mr Brown has turned a ten-point lead in the polls into a ten-point deficit.

Left-wing MPs claimed Mr Brown was going "back to the future" as he revived the New Labour brand just six months after appearing to bury it along with outgoing Mr Blair.

"We will not shirk but will see through changes and reforms in vital areas for our future," said the Prime Minister.

He is determined to shrug off the fiasco of the on-off autumn Election by pushing ahead with controversial plans for more nuclear power stations and improved access to family doctors, a change which is likely to lead to a full-scale confrontation with GPs.

He also wants a third runway at Heathrow Airport and to raise the school leaving age to 18.

A senior official said: "These reforms could all be characterised as New Labour measures. They are radical reforms which challenge the long-term issues facing Britain."

But the change of direction was criticised by one Left-wing MP, who said: "Most people associate New Labour with Blair, not Brown. I hoped we had moved on from this silly label."

Mr Brown has always been regarded as closer to Old Labour. His decision to embrace the New Labour brand again could be intended to head off a revolt by Mr Blair's former allies.

They held off from attacking Mr Brown in his first few months but, in the wake of the disastrous decision to call off a General Election, they have held secret meetings to discuss how and when to criticise the Government.

Mr Cameron tried to turn up the heat on Mr Brown by using his New Year message for a strongly worded denunciation of Labour.

He criticised the party's record on the NHS, its "acceptance of mediocrity" in education, and failures in crime and social breakdown, saying the Tories would offer a "clear and credible alternative to this hopeless and incompetent Labour Government of weak, exhausted and second-rate politicians".