Prime Minister Gordon Brown in Kilburn to help 'close friend' Glenda Jackson

Monday May 3, 2010

By RICHARD OSLEY

GORDON Brown played his part in the Labour fight to save Glenda Jackson from a polling day disaster with a lively visit to Kilburn yesterday (Sunday), telling activists and the local press that the Hampstead MP was "a very close friend".

With no obvious concern for how voters may have regarded Mr Brown's performance in the General Electiion campaign so far, Ms Jackson could not have done more to align herself with the Prime Minister as the pair shared compliments in the function room of the North London Tavern, where 200 party supporters had gathered to him and his wife Sarah.

Ms Jackson said: "We can only move forward with Gordon as our leader."

Actors Sadie Frost and Michelle Collins and presenter Amy Lame were among the celebrities in the cheering crowds. Mr Brown's visit was designed to stem any drift among Labour voters away from ms Jackson to the Lib Dems, some of whom have cheekily suggested the Labour constituents should vote tactically for their candidate Ed Fordham as the best chance to stop a Tory win.

Ms Jackson, who is facing a battle to keep her seat in Parliament against the twin threat of feisty campaigns being waged by the Conservatives and the Lib Dems in the redrawn Hampstead and Kilburn constituency.

In a shared interview with the two main newspapers in the constituency, Mr Brown was asked whether he felt comfortable endorsing a candidate had been openly rebellious to government policy on issues such as the Iraq War and the Trident missle replacement programme.

"Glenda is not only a colleague but a close friend. As I was saying in there (to Labour members), she has made one of the biggest contributions to the arts in this country."

Asked what he thought of Camden Council's policy of selling off council homes to raise money - a key plank of the Labour attack locally - Mr Brown made no direct criticism of the council.

"We need more housing not less," he  said. "And that why it makes me angry that Boris Johnson has removed the requirement to have 50 percent of affordable housing in new developments."

Mr Brown said his government had taken housing seriously and made it easier for first time buyers to get on the housing ladder.

Outside the pub, Lib Dem supporters and local councillors tried to ruin his visit by barracking him and waving large yellow posters. Mr Brown, who had received a rapturous welcome inside, dodged the chaotic scenes outside by slipping away through a side door.

MORE FOLLOWS