By KUNA,
London : British Prime Minister Gordon Brown can win the next General Election for Labour providing he changes course, former UK Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett has said.
The prime minister’s leadership has come under pressure from within his party after Labours defeat in last Thursday’s by-election in Crewe and Nantwich, northern England.
Beckett told BBC TV late last night that Labour had to learn from the electorate’s “clear desire to see a change of course.” Brown has said he can steer the UK through “difficult” economic times.
Beckett said Brown had a track record of success.
“There is absolutely nothing to say that provided we listen to the electorate, and learn from their clear desire to see a change of course, there’s nothing whatsoever to say the result of the next General Election is set,” she added.
Meanwhile, most of Saturday’s newspapers lead with speculation about Brown’s future, with a variety of potential successors identified.
An increasing number of ministers have voiced the fear that Labour cannot win the next General Election with Brown in charge, The Guardian claims.
The Daily Telegraph says ministers are urging the Premier to scrap rises in car taxes and petrol duty in a bid to regain popularity.
However, so far the appetite of backbenchers for a leadership contest appears to be slight.
Among the names tipped to replace him are Foreign Secretary David Miliband and Alun Milburn, the former Health Secretary during Tony Blair’s premiership.
However, John McDonnell, who made an attempt for the Labour Party leadership in 2007, said he detected no mood for change at present.
Fellow MP Alan Simpson said Brown had until the end of the year to “turn things round.” For her part, the Labour Partys deputy leader Harriet Harman said the vast majority of Labour members were “solidly behind” Brown.
Last Thursday, Brown saw a 7,000 Labour majority in the parliamentary constituency of Crewe and Nantwich turn into a majority of just under 8,000 for the opposition Conservatives.
Labour ministers blamed traditional mid-term difficulties when people are feeling the pinch of the world economic crisis.