Labour members 'want new leader'

The majority of Labour Party members and supporters want a new leader, according to a poll.

The latest survey suggests 54 per cent would prefer someone else in charge for the next General Election.

The results will be a significant blow to the Prime Minister as they represent the views of the Labour grassroots.

More than half of respondents (57 per cent) said there should be a vote at this week's conference on whether Mr Brown should face a leadership election.

Mr Brown has urged MPs to focus on Labour's core values ahead of this weekend's crucial conference in Manchester.

In a letter sent to all Labour MPs, the Prime Minister outlined the measures being taken by the party to help people through "this turbulent economic time".

He urged MPs to "restate the case for our party and values" and said he was confident "we can come through this difficult time".

Mr Brown said they needed to show people that the choice at the next election will be between "a Conservative Party which still believes in helping the few and not the many and a Labour Party which believes in fairness and opportunity for all and has the policies to deliver them".

The conference is being seen as a make-or-break moment for Mr Brown, with many inside Labour believing he must produce the speech of his life to turn around the party's fortunes and ensure his own political survival.

Deputy leader Harriet Harman said MPs calling for a leadership election had made an "error of judgement".

She said an internal contest would be "completely wrong" when people were so concerned about their jobs and finances.

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