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Labour presents its battleplan for the next election
Joe Murphy, Political Editor01.04.08
A plan to ensure Labour victory at the next general election was presented to the Cabinet today by Gordon Brown's chief strategist.
Stephen Carter set out plans to beef up the Government's operations under the themes of "On Your Side" and "At Your Service".
The battle plan was unveiled as Mr Brown told the Standard he intends to win back London and the South East by appealing to families who have done well under Labour.
In his Cabinet presentation, Mr Carter set out what he believes will be the main dividing lines of the next election - economic stability versus risk, leadership versus salesmanship and public services versus big cuts in spending.
He said Labour should fight on five key themes: the NHS, families, immigration, stability and law and order. Cabinet sources said his presentation was warmly endorsed by Mr Brown.
"There are three stages to the Carter operation. Firstly he has put in place a better team of people in Downing Street, secondly, he has put forward a political strategy which he outlined this morning to Cabinet, and next he will be improving the polling, fundraising and attack operations," said one insider.
Mr Carter also cracked the whip at special advisers - political aides to Cabinet ministers - with awarning that they need to work more closely with No 10. He has ordered Nick Stace and Jennifer Moses - both recent additions to the Downing Street team - to hold one-to-one sessions with all the advisers.
The strategy follows warnings from Labour MPs that "Southern Discomfort" at the Government's performance could lose Labour the next election.
Responding to the concerns, Mr Brown appealed to the self-interest of homeowners, small businesses and the aspirant working classes.
He said: "I think the important thing is that over the last 10 years people in the South have seen their living standard rise substantially. They've seen their net wealth rise even faster than their incomes."
Echoing former Tory Prime Minister Harold Macmillan's boast of "You've never had it so good", Mr Brown went on: "We've done what no other Government has done in 30 years, which is to provide the stability to allow people to plan ahead, whether they are homeowners, businesspeople or simply families wanting to make the best of their lives."
Mr Brown's comments come after a fortnight of soul-searching and division among senior Labour MPs, who fear a drubbing in the vital swing seats of the South-East and London.
Health minister Ivan Lewis said the Government seemed "silent on the daily realities" while Mr Brown's pollster, Deborah Mattinson, reportedly said crucial C1 and C2 voters in Essex and Kent - the aspirant workers who backed Margaret Thatcher - were drifting away.
But a ComRes poll in the Independent today showed Labour up one per cent to 31 with the Tories three points down on 38.
Reader views (14)
It was Tony Blair who did this, not Gordon Brown, he isn't a Blair and never could be.
- John, Essex UK
Families have done well under Labour? Ha! I sure don't know any. This man lives in a parallel universe.
- R M, London, UK
"On your side". I've got another slogan for Carter to work with "Pain in the back side"
- Tom, St. Albans
After only a few months with the SNP in power in Scotland we have seen more action than in Labour's eight years at Holyrood and fifty years in control at local authority level.
Labour is very good at setting up committees and quangos to investigate and oversee but has always been weak on action to follow up and enact their findings.
Even in opposition they continue in this manner and are in the process of establishing a commission to eradicate illiteracy. They have been responsible for the education of about five generations during the time they have been in power in Scotland.
Brown is proposing a strategy to win the next election in the south east of England, no signs of action to deal with the many problems which no doubt they share with others in the UK.
- John Jamieson, Edinburgh, Scotland
Are these the same people and small businesses facing ever increasing tax bills and drowning in red tape?
- Jeremy E, London UK
"appealing to families who have done well under Labour."
That will only be his chums in Westminster then.
- Dave, london
What Brown should do to win back voters is to put his Cabinet Ministers on the average salary (£25,000 gross) without expenses for 1 year!
Clearly based on the positive feedback he gets from his Ministers and their individual itemized cash-book accounting of how they spend their £25,000 income, he and his Chancellor can create a Budget that is meaningful to the public for next year thus winning back disillusioned voters!
- Fraser, Telford Park
I fail to see how my standard of living has risen substantially over the last ten years under the labour government. As a 35 year old trying to get a foot onto the housing ladder my standard of living has gotten progressively worse. I cannot buy a house as the prices are now out of my reach, council tax has gone through the roof, car tax has gone through the roof, petrol prices have gone through the roof, my train ticket has gone through the roof, alcohol tax has gone through the roof, cigarettes prices have gone through the roof, but significantly the inheritance tax threshold has not increased, now there’s a surprise. I would be interested to hear how Gordon Brown and the labour party have benefited me?
- Tim, Kent
The Government has generated nothing in the last 10yrs except huge debts and a higher tax bill. Low interest rates were a global phenomenon and not the result of policy. Now as growth slows and borrowing requirements grow inflation will drag long-term interest rates up again. The big difference from the last time Labour were kicked out is we have an extra 1mio+ foreigners in the country who'll be competing for scarce jobs!
- Mark Curtis, London
Dream on Brown. it's game over for incompetent amateurs like yourself matey!
- Tom, St. Albans
Is he mad? "Over the last 10 years people in the south have seen their living standard rise substantially"
Really, does he not mean their cost of living rise substantially? With Labour taxing us to the hilt to finance their Northern seats is it any wonder he's facing a backlash?
- R Taxing, Sutton
haha! Found your April Fool's piece at last! "Over the last 10 years people in the south have seen their living standard rise substantially. Their net wealth has risen even faster than their incomes." Maybe he has, I certainly have not. OK, my house may have gone up, but then I live in that so its worth is not a real gain. My council tax, fuel and food bills and fares have gone through the roof, while I also pay substantially more tax. Meanwhile, my employers have been helping the economy by dishing out pay rises at less than the official rate of inflation, and that in turn is nowhere near the real rate of inflation. Come on then Gordon, if you've done so well for the South East let's have an election now!
- Paul, London
Perhaps Gordon Brown would like to tell us why more money has been devoted to the Labour heartlands in the North at the expense of the South? Perhaps he could explain why Scotland does disproportionately well with regard to funding from Central government - Barnet formula? He might also like to explain why Scottish and Welsh MPs can vote on matter which affect England only and why the constituencies which have Labour MPs tend to be smaller than those returning the major opposition parties.
Now Gordon what's your appeal to Southern voters?
- Wayne B, London
Don't trust this man an inch, you can tell when he's lying as his lips move.
- Neil Grinsell, London
