Britain’s Brown fights to win over party doubters

Prime Minister Gordon Brown will return to a familiar theme — a fairer Britain — in a speech to his Labour Party on Tuesday, knowing many have lost faith in his leadership and are looking to replace him.

One member of Labour's executive committee told Reuters the prime minister had been given time to sort out the economic crisis but would have to go next July after European elections if he had failed to reverse poor poll ratings.

"A Britain of fair chances for all, and fair rules applied to all," Brown will say, according to excerpts of his speech released by officials. It was unclear whether revisiting such well-trodden territory would win over Brown's critics.

After 11 years in power, Labour is lagging some 20 points behind the opposition Conservatives in opinion polls. The next parliamentary is due by mid-2010.

Brown took over from Tony Blair 15 months ago without a contest and has seen his popularity plunge. Talk of the need for a challenger has grow in the past months as Britain has grappled with economic woes and Brown's government has faced accusations of being slow and indecisive over a range of issues.

Some Labour lawmakers want to replace Brown, the dour former finance minister, with a more public-friendly leader better able to woo voters. Others want a move away from Blair's centrist policies back towards Labour's roots among working people.

"A government fighting on behalf of the people will get the support of the people," said Derek Simpson, joint chief of Britain's biggest trades union and Labour Party sponsor Unite.

"With a change of policy, not a change of leader, we can win the next election."