Brown must fight to save sinking party

Plenty of worries to keep PM awake

Published:

IN AN interview this week, the prime minster claimed that his sons John and Fraser were keeping him awake at night. No mention was made of the soporific qualities, or otherwise, of the latest opinion polls that put Gordon Brown’s party on just 23% of the vote.

Labour has never been lower and it puts them 26 points behind the Tories.

Can anything stop David Cameron from seizing power from Labour at the next general election?

His party performed well in the English local elections and Boris Johnson’s campaign ousted Ken Livingston.

Perhaps, as is the way in politics, the Labour government has simply run out of steam and whoever is next on the list will pick up the baton.

Mr Brown cannot afford to believe that is the case. The Tories must not be allowed to gain power by osmosis. They must fight for the right to govern, as should all parties.

The problem for Mr Brown and Labour is where to start to regain trust, support and votes.

It is only worth drawing a line if others can see it. That means apologies for failed policies, retractions of poor promises and a redefinition of the rest of this term for the government.

Mr Brown and Labour have been at rock bottom before but that was in opposition.

He must remember how he redefined his party and do it again.

Perhaps, when all that is done, Mr Brown can blame his sleepless nights wholly on his sons.