Brown opts for Blairite promises to woo voters

GORDON BROWN yesterday launched a distinctly Blairite Labour manifesto for the general election, promising to reform public services to “put people in charge” and pledging not to raise income tax rates.

Acknowledging that Labour faced “the fight of our lives” to secure a fourth term, Brown promised to rebuild the economy and avoid “reckless” cuts in public spending which he said would put recovery at risk.

Labour’s 76-page manifesto presented “a realistic and radical plan for Britain that starts with securing the recovery and renews Britain as a fairer, greener, more accountable and more prosperous country for the future”, he said.