MPs rally round Brown

Wed Sep 30 2009 22:50:51

One of Gordon Brown's closest political colleagues, Ed Balls, has voiced his support for the Prime Minister.

The Children's Secretary has spoken at the Labour Party Conference in Brighton. During his address to delegates Mr Balls thanked their leader for his work.

The Cabinet minister also said it was Labour policies that would bring the country out of the current recession, and not those of the Conservatives.

It comes as Gordon Brown plays down the damage to his electoral prospects after The Sun withdrew its support. The Prime Minister has insisted that voters, not newspapers, decide which party will be in Government, and urged people to take a close look at his policies.

In a round of broadcast interviews, Mr Brown said: "It's the British people that decide the election, it's the British people's views that I am interested in."

After 12 years of supporting Labour, The Sun newspaper is now endorsing the Conservatives to win the next election.

The influential paper has published a front page headline claiming "Labour's lost it".

Rupert Murdoch's tabloid had backed the Labour party since 1997 when it switched from its traditional Tory leanings.

It took the decision to run a damning front page after listening to Mr Brown's speech to the party conference.

The paper's political editor, George Pascoe-Watson, said: "Mr Brown did not spend enough time talking about crucial issues like Afghanistan and law and order."

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