UK News
Brown shrugs off growing leadership criticism (Roundup)
By DPA
May 12, 2008, 14:50 GMT

London - British Prime Minister Gordon Brown insisted Monday that he would 'not be distracted' by growing criticism over his leadership, and would focus on the job at hand.

Brown's spokesman, asked whether he was confident that the current prime minister would lead Britain's ruling Labour Party into the next general election, said: 'Of course he is.'

The comments came after one of Brown's chief critics suggested Monday that the Labour leader would be dropped by his party before the next general election, due in two year's time at the latest.

'I would be very surprised if he (Brown) is still the leader of the Labour Party then and therefore leading us into the election campaign,' said Labour member of parliament (MP) Frank Field, who has been leading a party revolt over taxation.

His comment came in a BBC interview Monday and follows a string of personal attacks on Brown by allies of former prime minister Tony Blair.

Responding to Field's stinging criticism, Health Secretary Alan Johnson acknowledged that the 'knives were out' for Brown in what he said amounted to 'character assassination.'

Meanwhile, Brown's spokesman said: 'The prime minister's view is that he's not going to be distracted by this kind of stuff and what he is focusing on are the big issues facing the country and are of concern to the people in the country.'

Brown has conceded that 'mistakes' he made had contributed to a devastating setback for Labour in local elections on May 1, and promised that he will 'listen and lead.'

But, while the prime minister was struggling to regain the initiative, the party was in danger of 'tearing itself apart' over the leadership issue, commentators said.

Conservative leader David Cameron said Monday the government was beginning to resemble a 'bizarre soap opera,' where settling scores had become more important 'than actually running the country.'

Field, meanwhile, said Brown's position would become 'intolerable' if MPs did not get a 'satisfactory answer' over how millions of people disadvantaged by tax changes would be compensated.

In his extremely outspoken interview, Field said that Brown looked 'unhappy in himself' in what was 'part of the tragedy.'

Field suggested that Brown should 'talk to his loved ones and see what they say and act on their advice.'