Brown following plan for early election
One of Gordon Brown’s top strategists urged him to call an early election, a leaked memo reveals.
A ten-point plan seen by the Daily Mirror encourages Mr Brown to pursue a “shock attack strategy”.
The memo is seen as the clearest indication yet the prime minister will announce an early election.
Written by Labour strategist Philip Gould, the memo reveals Brown’s honeymoon period was meticulously orchestrated – designed to lay the foundations for a fourth Labour victory in autumn or early spring 2008.
The prime minister, who is described as a “muscular leader”, is urged to meet the national desire for change. Mr Gould claims the public have an “irrational” impulse to change leadership, warning Mr Brown not to fall victim of voter fatigue.
Mr Gould wrote: “We have to have a strategy of audacious advance. The best way of achieving this is to hold an early election after a short period of intense and compelling activity.”
He continues: “It is inconceivable that you will not enjoy a significant honeymoon when you become leader. You need to build on this and translate it into a new mandate. I am sure this strategy will work.”
Written in the closing weeks of Tony Blair’s leadership, Mr Brown has already carried out many of the memo’s recommendations.
Mr Gould advises him to launch his leadership with bold initiatives and to make his own policies clear.
As leader, Mr Brown is told to be bold, while managing to retain community and promote an image of reform.
Mr Brown is advised to begin planning for the next election early after Mr Gould warns Labour left its campaign too late in 2005.
Clearly taking this advice on board, Mr Brown appointed Douglas Alexander as election coordinator in one of his first acts as leader.
Ed Miliband has also been asked to begin drafting a Labour manifesto.
Labour’s poor financial backing remains a serious impediment to fighting a winning election campaign, but Mr Brown has now launched a campaign to refill the party’s coffers.
