Brown 'resolute and determined'

Gordon Brown has admitted last week was "a challenge" but said he will continue to be "resolute and determined" amid Blairite grumblings.

Aiming to bounce back from his most difficult seven days as Prime Minister, Mr Brown said he is "getting on with the job".

He added: "Every week is a challenge. This week is a challenge as well. You go up and down. You have just got to accept that's what happens in politics."

Mr Brown said: "I will continue to be resolute and determined in making all the decisions necessary for the future of the country."

On Sunday, a poll for the Telegraph put the Tories seven points ahead at 43 per cent, their biggest lead since 1992, with Labour on 36 per cent.

It followed comments by Blairite former Lord Chancellor, Lord Falconer, who urged Mr Brown to spell out his vision for the country more clearly, saying: "Renewal does not come from change of leadership alone."

Lord Falconer warned that a change of leadership at the top of government was not enough to renew New Labour, and warned against "drift".

Mr Brown said: "I think he was saying that any government that doesn't have leadership is in danger of drifting. It was saying what we have been saying all the time - we have set out our vision for the future of the country."

The Prime Minister has also faced criticism for his last-minute decision not to call an autumn General Election, his performance in the Commons and "stealing" policies from the Tories.

This week, the Tories will keep up the pressure on Mr Brown over the EU Reform treaty with party leader David Cameron urging him to honour a manifesto commitment to hold a referendum on the EU Constitution.

Opponents of the treaty claim it is the same in all but name as the Constitution - a suggestion the Government strongly rejects.

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