Mandelson urges Labour fightback

Lord Mandelson said Labour would target the Tories on public spending

Lord Mandelson has said Labour must "roll its sleeves up" and take the fight to the Conservatives instead of handing them victory "on a plate".

The business secretary suggested the general election would come down to "the substance of Gordon Brown versus the shallowness of David Cameron".

Writing in the News Of The World, he indicated Labour would fight the poll on the basis of its economic record.

And Mr Brown stepping down before the election was "not an option", he added.

It comes as several of the Sunday newspapers report Lord Mandelson is being lined up for a safe Labour seat so he can stand for the leadership of the Labour Party.

When we come back in the autumn, the party needs to roll its sleeves up, pull together and concentrate Lord Mandelson

The Sunday Mirror says legislation is being rushed through Parliament to allow the business secretary to give up his life peerage.

Writing in the News Of The World, Lord Mandelson said the prime minister "averted a Great Depression" when the banks were rescued last year.

Recognising Labour was adrift in the polls, Lord Mandelson said: "When we come back in the autumn, the party needs to roll its sleeves up, pull together and concentrate."

'Fighting to win'

He said Labour would continue go on the offensive over the Tories' public spending proposals in the run-up to an expected spring ballot.

When it comes to the election campaign, David Cameron will be put on spot - he will have to answer how on earth he changes his economic views every day of the week Harriet Harman Labour 'men-only leadership' over

"The next general election will not simply be a referendum on the government," he said.

Deputy Leader Harriet Harman told BBC One's Andrew Marr the Tories were being "insufferably arrogant" by suggesting Labour had already lost the next election.

But a Conservative spokesman said: "Harriet Harman should tell us who has been saying this. It is certainly not the view of the Conservative Party and nobody has made such a claim."

'Totally winnable'

Ms Harman also denied any in-Party fighting with Lord Mandelson.

"It is incredibly important at a time when confidence in business is so crucial, that businesses, big and small, can see a really big figure at heart of government speaking up on the important issues.

"Lord Mandelson, like all of us in the cabinet, is there to support the PM," she added.

Meanwhile, a survey suggests the Conservatives' lead over Labour is even stronger in key marginal seats than in the rest of the country.

The poll, conducted in 30 constituencies, put the Tories on 44%, Labour on 20% and the Liberal Democrats on 18%.

The survey of 1,004 voters was carried out by Crosby/Textor/Pepper for aviation lobby group FlyingMatters, and appears in the Sunday Telegraph.

A YouGov poll for the Daily Telegraph on Friday put the Conservatives at 41% across the country as a whole compared to 27% for Labour.

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