UK NEWS

BROWN ADMITS PRICE RISE FEAR

Brown admits he is "very worried" for families and pensioners

Wednesday April 30,2008

By Macer Hall, Political Editor

Comment Speech Bubble Have your say(15)

GORDON Brown yesterday admitted being “very worried” about the impact of crippling price rises on families and pensioners.

He conceded that millions of households were suffering under the financial squeeze.

It was a confession likely to intensify concern about his Government’s stewardship of the economy.

As he spoke, new figures suggested further downturns in High Street spending and lending by banks.

But Mr Brown claimed Labour would not be punished for the economic gloom in tomorrow’s town hall elections, arguing that local issues dominated the polls.

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“We have got this credit crunch, we have got food prices rising, we have got fuel prices rising,” he said yesterday.

“I feel very worried about the effect of that on ordinary hard-working families and on pensioners. We are trying to avoid what happened in America where you have got lots of mortgage repossessions and rising unemployment. Therefore it is a difficult time.

“But I think we can steer the economy through that difficult time, as we have done every year since we have been in Government in 1997.”

Mr Brown denied Labour was facing a “kicking” in tomorrow’s polls. He said: “I want people to come out and vote and see that there is a choice. I understand that we are going through difficult times economically.” Figures from the Confederation of British Industry yesterday showed that retail sales fell sharply this month.

Fifty-two per cent of retailers said sale volumes were down on a year ago.

*** GET A DAILY UPDATE ON THE COST OF LIVING IN THE DAILY EXPRESS NEWSPAPER ***

Separate figures from the Bank of England yesterday showed that the number of mortgages approved fell to a record low last month.

A series of opinion polls have shown Labour trailing the Tories badly, with a gap of up to 18 per cent. But Mr Brown said: “Polls go down and they go up.”

Meanwhile, senior Labour backbencher Ian Gibson last night accused party leaders of a lack of respect to Gwyneth Dunwoody, the popular Crewe MP who died on April 17.

He was angry at them announcing details of the May 22 by-election over a week before her funeral on May 8.
But Mrs Dunwoody’s family said they backed the decision.

Her daughter Tamsin, 49, is hoping to be selected as Labour’s candidate at a meeting this Saturday.

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GORDON HAS AN ALBI READY

01.05.08, 8:46am

So thats it then when the results come in if his party do badly its because of the local boys imposing their fines for filling your bin to much.If they do well its because Gordon has made such a good job running the country. {I can,t believe I said that] Good luck everyone

• Posted by: retiredmale • Report Comment

DISBELIEF SEEMS TO BE THE ORDER OF THE DAY IN CYNICAL BRITAIN

01.05.08, 3:37am

If anyone disbelieves Gordon Brown about his concern over what is happening in America and fear that it could happen in Britain, then he/she has a few screws loose. However, that shouldn't be of concern to anyone, Prince William is taking flak from a similar crowd of people not playing with a full deck.

Curious though, Have Your Say is readily available if you want to curse the Prime Minister, but not if you want to make a comment about Prince William.

So here goes. Gordon Brown can well respond to his naysayers. Prince William cannot. There is widespread cynicism, disbelief, and mockery hurled at William for his flight to Afghanistan. He's damned if he does and damned if he does not. Can anyone do anything right in Britian right now? A costly flight sanctioned by the RAF to improve his image? Are you all mad? Some of you argue and criticize for that sake alone. Get down with the negative, join the crowd. What a losing philosophy. As for the flight, the plane was carrying 600,000 lbs of freight for heaven's sake, and 10 people. It was going there for a reason. It came back with a fallen soldier and Prince William. If I were the soldier's relatives I'd find some consolation in that. Prince William tried his best and all he got was flak. But then that's all Gordon Brown gets these days. It makes me ashamed to be British, a bunch of whiners everywhere.

HERE'S MY SAY ABOUT PRINCE WILLIAM - AND PRINCE HARRY. THE ROYAL FAMILY IS LUCKY TO HAVE TWO SUCH HEIRS. A LEGACY FROM DIANA, AND BRITIAN IS LUCKY TOO. SEND THEM OVER TO THE USA, THEY'D FALL OVER THEM OVER THERE - AS THEY DID DIANA. They'd be better appreciated.

• Posted by: Pendragon • Report Comment

BUG A ME?

01.05.08, 3:30am

Quote: But Mr Brown claimed Labour would not be punished for the economic gloom in tomorrow’s town hall elections, arguing that local issues dominated the polls.

If old GoDron ain't worried aboot the elections it can only mean one thing.
He's done a MUGABE and fixed 'em!

• Posted by: kojak • Report Comment

BROWN'S FEARS!!

30.04.08, 8:21pm

Does'nt this poser make you sick to the stomach?. All ego and self importance, with the talent of a sixty year old barbarry ape. Looking at his drawn out features he's paying the price of all inadequates doing a job way beyond his mental abilities. Why oh why did the people of England vote this collection of twits and self-serving dumb idiots into power?. In '97 I said to anybody who would listen that if they voted for pretty boy Blair and his collection of Scottish mafia we would all pay the price in spades. Someone tell me of just one decision made that has helped England to grow, that has had wisdom and foresight. Zilch, brothers. Nada. Rien. Get them out pdq. And learn to put more trust in the Tories. They, at least, have the wisdom and the brains to put things right - as they have always done if you take the trouble to check up on our political history. Me, I'm just sick of seeing the same old labour garbage wreck all we value. Wake up folks, before your "wicked Tory" twaddle works again on weak minds and hearts.

• Posted by: bluenote • Report Comment

LIAR...LIAR...LIAR !!!

30.04.08, 7:07pm

Worried about price rises!!??.....the liar couldn't care less!

He sleeps soundly at night knowing his bank balance is stuffed to bursting point with taxpayers cash and a fat, bloated and gold plated pension all paid for by the taxpayer, worrying only that he may not be able to get his hands on more of our cash as the hardworking public are sledgehammered with more tax hikes before we kick his sorry @ss out of Downing Street!!!..........

.....GRRRRHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!

• Posted by: moorlok • Report Comment

TOO LITTLE - TOO LATE

30.04.08, 6:18pm

HAVE LEFT A COPY OF THIS COMMENT ON BROWNS DOWNING ST WEBSITE - PERHAPS OTHERS WOULD LIKE TO DO THE SAME?
JUST SHUT UP BROWN - WE DON'T BELIEVE YOU -
The only person you worry about is yourself - and what job you will get when you are thrown out -
The only votes you will get are from immigrants grateful you let them in and benefit scroungers who you keep on throwing money at!!!!!!!!!!
OH - and the people overseas to whom you gave away £1,600 million in the past year
LOOK AFTER YOUR OWN PEOPLE FIRST
Glad the news came out about the car tax hike the day before the elections!
SUGGEST BROWN TAKES A COURSE IN ARITHMETIC - to work out the implications of his tax hikes

• Posted by: noway • Report Comment