Labour rallies around Gordon Brown after The Sun’s switch

Oct 1 2009 by William Green, The Journal

LABOUR ministers and activists rallied round Gordon Brown yesterday after he lost the support of The Sun newspaper, with deputy leader Harriet Harman telling the newspaper: “We won’t be bullied.”

And union leader Tony Woodley won cheers from delegates at the party’s Brighton conference by angrily tearing up a copy of The Sun on-stage.

The Prime Minister also won backing from North East MPs who condemned the decision of the tabloid to switch sides.

The paper’s decision – announced yesterday morning under the headline “Labour’s lost it” – cast a shadow over the fourth day of the conference.

But the Prime Minister said voters and not newspapers decided who won elections, urging people to take a close look at his policies.

“I think Sun readers actually, when they look at what I say, they will agree with what I said,” said Mr Brown.

Foreign Secretary David Miliband, MP for South Shields, said: “The Sun was extremely rattled by the Prime Minister’s speech and the attempt to spike it shows it was a very strong speech. But Labour has a very clear plan for the future and I am confident we can carry it out with drive and determination.”

Senior Newcastle councillor Sir Jeremy Beecham, who sits on Labour’s ruling national executive committee, said: “I don’t think The Sun’s position is unexpected.

“We have been expecting The Sun to go out for the Tories for some time. It is their natural home. I don’t think it will make a difference either way.”

He praised the Prime Minister for setting out the “dividing lines” with the Tories as well a vision for the future while defending the Government’s record.

And Mr Cameron faces a major headache if the Irish back the new EU Lisbon Treaty in a referendum on Friday, claimed Sir Jeremy.

That would increase pressure on the Tory leader to hold a UK referendum on the treaty if he becomes Prime Minister, potentially undermining Tory support and opening up the next election.