Brown offers Labour reassurance

Gordon Brown had given his backing Ken Livingstone

Prime Minister Gordon Brown is set to reassure the Labour Party he can lead them to victory despite disastrous results at local elections.

Labour suffered its worst local council election result in 40 years, which was topped by Ken Livingstone's defeat by Boris Johnson in London's mayoral race.

Mr Brown is giving media interviews on Sunday as newspapers speculate about various plans to oust him.

The Conservatives made gains across England and Wales, including London.

But despite Labour's losses, including Conservative MP Boris Johnson ending Ken Livingstone's eight years as mayor of London, Labour officials have insisted the party can win the next general election.

Over the last few years, Labour has been losing elections because millions of our core supporters have decided to stay home on election days John Cruddas Labour MP Brown faces new tax revolt threat

Left-wing backbencher John Cruddas, who was unsuccessful in gaining the deputy leadership last year, wrote in an article in the Sunday Mirror that the party was "sinking fast".

He said working-class voters had been "let down and patronised" by the government as they sought the middle-class vote.

"Over the last few years, Labour has been losing elections because millions of our core supporters have decided to stay home on election days.

"Well, the missing millions are back - but now they're voting for the other side," Mr Cruddas wrote.

He warned: "if we carry on as we are, it will carry on getting worse."

Jack Straw said the results had been a "mid-term protest vote"

Justice Secretary Jack Straw has said voters demonstrated a "mid-term protest vote" because they were "angry" Labour had scrapped the 10p income tax rate.

Former minister Frank Field has threatened to reactivate the backbench rebellion over the 10p tax rate - unless Mr Brown outlines how he would compensate workers who will lose out.

In an article in the Mail on Sunday, he said the rebels were ready to block the Budget unless ministers made it "crystal clear" about compensation.

The government must learn the lessons of its ineptitude in handling the 10p tax controversy Frank Field Labour backbencher

Mr Field blamed much of Thursday's poor result for Labour on the 10p row, warning that voters did not know whether they would be covered by the compensation package announced by Chancellor Alistair Darling.

He warned that this month's by-election in Crewe and Nantwich - caused by the death of veteran MP Gwyneth Dunwoody - could be lost if the government failed to convince voters they would not lose out.

The government, after a rebellion led by Mr Field, has said low-paid workers and pensioners aged 60-64 would receive compensation backdated to the start of this financial year, when the change came into effect.

But Mr Field said Mr Darling's explanations of how the tax change would be "offset" by enhanced payments under the winter fuel allowance, tax credits and minimum wage had been "clear as mud".

"But that is not the message that voters hear. The government must learn the lessons of its ineptitude in handling the 10p tax controversy. And it needs to do so in double-quick time," he said.