Brown looking to revive his fortunes

With Labour backbenchers panicking in the wake of disastrous local elections, the Prime Minister is hoping that a series of populist measures can change his fortunes.

However, the most high-profile one - backtracking on controversial pay-as-you-throw litter charges - threatened to backfire when council leaders accused him of wasting millions of pounds by "dithering".

Also, former Labour welfare minister Frank Field was poised to revive his damaging rebellion over the 10p tax band abolition.

Meanwhile, Tory leader David Cameron will seek to press home his advantage by painting the PM as a "desperate man" and visiting Crewe - the battleground for a crucial by-election later this month.

Plans for what critics describe as a "bin tax" have descended into chaos since last September, when Downing Street stepped in to block an announcement giving the idea a full green light. Proposals for pilot schemes were later a surprise inclusion in the Climate Change Bill.

Number 10 then briefed newspapers on Monday that Mr Brown would veto any national scheme - but Defra confirmed that the trials were still going ahead regardless of this apparently implacable opposition.

The three-year tests are being funded with £4.5 million from central Government, while councils are due to contribute at least another £3 million for start-up and running costs.

The Local Government Association questioned why taxpayers were being asked to fork out £7.5 million if the PM's mind was already made up.

Councillor Paul Bettison, the LGA's environment spokesman, said: "This must be making him dizzy. It is the third U-turn he has carried out on these financial incentives. There is the smell of burning rubber everywhere."