Brown: Just another day at the office
Friday, 25 Jul 2008 13:36
Gordon Brown says he is "getting on with the job" despite SNP victory in Glasgow East by-election
Gordon Brown has insisted he is "getting on with the job", despite waking up to a disastrous by-election defeat in Glasgow East.
The Scottish National party (SNP) overturned a 13,000-strong majority to win Labour's third-safest seat across the country.
Coming on the back of a similar defeat in the Labour heartlands of Crewe and Nantwich and the deposit loss in Henley, Mr Brown is facing fresh questions over the party's future and his as leader.
But speaking at the Labour party's National Policy Forum he said he planned to get on with running the country.
In a message to the whole country he said: "Have confidence that not only do we have the right policies but that when the time comes we will be able to persuade the British people."
Earlier he had reacted to last night's by-election defeat by saying: "People are worried at rising food and fuel prices and we've got to show that we know that; only we understand and hear them.
"Labour will take them through these difficult times to help people and hardworking families who are hard pressed."
The prime minister went on to say: "We had a great candidate and I'm sorry that we lost but I know that people are looking to the government for the action that's necessary.
"We're looking at everything we can do for what is a global problem so we can help people through these difficult times and that's exactly that we will continue to do.
"My task is to get on with the job of getting us through these difficult times.
"I think people understand that what's happening is a global problem, it is happening to every country.
"We are on the side of hardworking families to help them through difficult times and my whole focus is taking people through these difficult times," Mr Brown added.
"And that is exactly what people want me to do."