The Parliamentary Labour Party meeting was dominated by concerns about the Government’s plunging popularity under his leadership. Many wondered how to win voters following post office closures.

Mr Brown claimed the Government could afford to keep borrowing to finance more spending.

He said health checks for pensioners were evidence that Labour still had the cash to keep spending despite the financial gloom.

The Premier said: “We need to show people we are on their side and there to serve. We need to own the future and show how Labour has the ideas for the future of the country.”

Only 49 per cent of people considering themselves natural Labour voters would be certain to vote in a general election, a ComRes poll revealed last night. It put the Tories on 38 per cent, down three points since last month, with Labour up one on 31 per cent.