Gordon Brown rallies support in surprise visit

As the recession takes its political toll, the Prime Minister privately met local businesses and Labour Party groups at the International Manufacturing Centre on Friday the 13th.

The Prime Minister’s visit caught many off guard. The university’s press office claimed ignorance. Even a Warwick Labour executive confessed surprise.

“We were told there would be a meeting but not who it was going to be.”

Ben Nolan, president of Warwick Labour, said the meeting was put together “at the last minute”. He was informed the day before.

Brown issued “a rallying call to all local supporters” in a “rousing” ten-minute speech, Nolan said.

The Prime Minister told local Labour supporters to “stay united and keep working hard”.

He emphasised equality and fairness and the need to “lessen the impact of the recession,” Nolan said.

This approach contrasted with that of the Conservatives who, Brown said, would “let the recession take its course” and “cut public services in a time when we need it most”.

Nolan drew comfort from the Prime Minister’s demeanour. “He believes he can win the next election.”

But Puneet Dhaliwal was not reassured.

Dhaliwal was part of a group gathered opposite the Manufacturing Centre to protest the Kings North project, Britain’s first coal-fired power plant in thirty years.

“Save the climate, not the banks,” they cried.

Lev Taylor, a second-year undergraduate, said the government’s concern for the environment was “negligible” and characterised by targets it had no intention to meet.

“Now they are considering environmentally-unfriendly forms of energy, like nuclear and coal.”

Warwick Manufacturing Group, which hosted the meetings, insisted it remained politically neutral. “We will always work with whatever government is in power as appropriate to our work.”

Kumar Bhattacharyya, WMG’s director, is a Labour peer and trustee of the Institute of Public Policy Research, an influential centre-left think tank.

He hosted Margaret Thatcher “more than once”, the group said.

“Lord Bhattacharyya is acquainted with [David] Cameron and… if it were mutually beneficial and relevant to WMG’s work, we would be happy to host a similar visit.”

Jim Cunningham, Labour MP from Coventry South, said Brown assured small businesses that his government would help them while the economy remains at an ebb.

“You’ve got to accept the assurances on the basis of the fact that whoever’s giving them is telling you the truth,” said Cunningham.

In October, Brown made 1 billion pounds of loan guarantees available to small businesses. However, the Financial Times has since reported only 12 million pounds have been put to use.

Nearly 3 million people in Coventry are involved in small businesses, said Cunningham. But he remained confident about his party’s prospects at the ballot box.

Cunningham dismissed an Ipsos MORI survey revealing a 20 point lead for the Conservatives, insisting “Coventry Labour Party is in good shape” and doing everything it could to help people through hard times.

There was no further word on financial assistance to Jaguar Land Rover, whose Coventry factory hires almost 3,000 workers.