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Harriet Harman bids to rally battered Labour
01.10.09
Harriet Harman will bid to end Labour's last conference before the general election on a high today, after a difficult week in Brighton.
The party's deputy leader is to deliver the traditional rallying cry to activists, insisting they can still beat the Tories.
The Government suffered a blow yesterday when The Sun switched its allegiance to David Cameron after 12 years, splashing the front page with the headline: "Labour's lost it."
The tabloid's move - timed to overshadow Gordon Brown's crucial address to delegates - sparked a furious response from party figures.
In tetchy exchanges in broadcast interviews, the Prime Minister played down the newspaper's influence, while Lord Mandelson appeared to suggest that its readers were "losers". Ms Harman declared that Labour would not be "bullied" by the press.
But the most dramatic reaction came from union leader Tony Woodley, who was cheered to the rafters by party members as he tore up a copy of The Sun on stage.
The row distracted attention from another wave of policy announcements by ministers, as they tried to show that the Government was still a force for change after more than a decade in power.
Health Secretary Andy Burnham unveiled plans to abolish car parking charges for hospital in-patients and their visitors, while Children's Secretary Ed Balls promised an inquiry into racism in the education system which unions said could lead to a ban on the BNP in schools.
Ms Harman issued a call to Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to "terminate" a California-based website which advertises the services of prostitutes in the UK and allows men to rate them.
Despite criticism that there was little funding detail for the raft of proposals, the premier insisted voters would be attracted by them.
"It's the British people that decide the election, it's the British people's views that I am interested in," said the Prime Minister.
"I think Sun readers actually, when they look at what I say, they will agree with what I said."
Mr Brown's Cabinet lieutenant Lord Mandelson revealed he was informed of the paper's defection by News International bosses including chief executive Rebekah Brooks at a reception hosted by the publisher in Brighton last night and told them they were being "a bunch of chumps".
Asked at a fringe event whether the newspaper was merely attaching itself to winners, he replied: "I think that just as they may think they are picking winners, I think probably the losers are picking them."
There were reports last night that the Government was planning spending cuts and asset sales of £75 billion, in an effort to avoid further tax rises.
The pay of judges, senior civil servants and NHS managers is set to be frozen within weeks, according to The Times, while other public sector workers will only get minimal rises.
Downing Street is also said to be looking at a "very big list" of defence procurement orders, with the intention of scrapping major capital projects.
Foreign Secretary David Miliband and Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth are due to address the conference this morning, before Ms Harman rounds off the gathering.
Reader views (5)
"It's the British people that decide the election, it's the British people's views that I am interested in," said the Prime Minister.
...then he should be afraid. Be VERY afraid....
- Rogan, Irving
Should be good for a laugh if nothing else!
- Mike, London England and once GREAT Britain
WELL WE NOW KNOW IT'S TIME TO CLOSE THE COFFIN LID AND BANG THE LAST NAIL IN.
The country is in chaos and Harperson wants to stop a call girl advertising site in another contry from operating , and trying to ban the BNP from schools (pray tell me where the bnp are found in schools???????).
THE DAYS OF LABOUR UNDER MICHAEL FOOT SPRING TO MIND HERE.
BANKRUPT OF SOCIAL MORALITY,FINANCE AND COMMON SENSE.
SPARE US ALL FROM NAZI FEMINISM.
HARPERSON SPEAKS
NU-LIEBOUR IS FINISHED.
AND GOD HELP US WHEN THE TORIES GET IN.
GOD HELP US EVERY ONE.
MR (IT HURTS) PASTRY.
- Mr Pastry, london
It's the Sun wot stuffed `em - watch this space.
- Ted, London
"It's the British people that decide the election, it's the British people's views that I am interested in," said the Prime Minister. What's the silly chump worried about then?
- Never Eat Tuna Again, London
