Labour could lose Crewe by-election, party chief admits as Brown moves away from 'anti-toff' campaign

Gordon Brown tried to move on from Labour's disastrous "class war" by-election campaign today by issuing a positive message for the last two days.

In a local radio phone-in he insisted attacks on the Tory candidate as a "toff" were not at the heart of Labour's real beliefs.

"These things happen in by-elections," the prime minister said on BBC Radio Stoke.

Mr Brown recalled that, in his first election, he was followed by a kilt-wearing piper whose purpose was to remind voters he was Scottish.

"The most important thing is that Tamsin Dunwoody is putting a positive case. I think she is running a very positive campaign. I talked to her only a few days ago and what she is talking about is improving the town centre, improving opportunities for apprentices and improving the hospitals in the area."

Mr Brown's comments marked a U-turn in Labour's tactics. The focus now is on local issues and selling Ms Dunwoody, daughter of the late MP Gwyneth Dunwoody, as a younger version of her feisty mother.

"She is an independent woman with a sense of purpose," Mr Brown said, speaking from No 10.

"She wants to represent the people of Crewe and Nantwich in the kind of way her mother did, as an independent and strong fighting presence in the House of Commons. I am looking forward-to working with her."

Refreshing: Tory candidate Edward Timpson and David Cameron enjoyed a drink with Asda staff in the Crewe supermarket's cafe yesterday

Labour's "toff " campaign has included dressing activists as Lord Snooty to highlight the wealthy upbringing of Conservative candidate Edward Timpson, and even doctoring a photograph to portray him in a top hat.

The strategy has flopped, with an opinion poll in the constituency giving the Tories hope of their first by-election win from Labour for three decades.

The Independent/ComRes survey puts the Conservatives on 48 per cent, with Labour on 35 per cent and the Liberal Democrats on 12. That would easily overturn Labour's 7,078 majority at the last election.

Health Secretary Alan Johnson, touring a health centre with Ms Dunwoody, insisted Labour could still win.

He dismissed the toff row as a bit of "background colour", adding: "The central message is that, no matter what is your background, no matter what your class or where you come from, Labour is here to meet your aspirations.

"It's not about pulling people down, it's about lifting people up."

Labour suffered another poll blow when a national survey for The Guardian, by ICM, put its support on only 27 per cent, 14 per cent behind the Tories and only five per cent ahead of the Lib-Dems.

Labour's support is down seven per cent on last month. The Tories are up two per cent and the Lib-Dems up three.