Until today Mr Brown and his Home Office ministers have remained largely silent and let the Tories make the running. But again Mr Brown says he will not be governed by headlines. And his private focus groups tell him that people, while concerned about crime, are unimpressed by Mr Cameron's "seizing" of this issue. The Prime Minister says: "On gun crime we have to act decisively to halt the supply and circulation of guns. You will find away from the headlines a lot of work has been done to identify those communities where there is a very particular problem of the circulation of guns." He wants the importation of guns tackled so they do not get so readily in the hands of young people. And he promises laws if they are necessary. As for a "broken society", he clearly thinks it is another gimmick from a floundering Tory party. Mr Cameron is also, along with The Daily Telegraph, calling for a referendum on the new European Union "treaty." Mr Brown says his "red lines" have been secured and unless those red lines change there is no need for a vote on the treaty - which is almost exactly the same as the old constitution. But, crucially, that does leave him some wriggle room. In fact, if he does call an October election moves would likely be made to delay further progress of the treaty at next month's inter-governmental conference, where European countries want it to be finally agreed. He says: "Let's put it this way, it's very important to me - and the country - that having said these things and having achieved these red lines that it is also in the detail from the inter-governmental conference. That's where the focus of the debate should be." In short, Mr Brown is acutely aware that Brussels draughtsmen could produce a legal document that subtly erodes the assurances in the way of opt-outs, opt-ins and protocols that he says he negotiated hard for. He says he is satisfied but will be watching like a hawk to see if anything is changed next month. So the possibility of a U-turn is still in play. And Mr Brown has already made a few. Within days of taking over from Mr Blair he scrapped plans for a super casino and announced that treating cannabis offences seriously again would be a priority. He explains his decision and it is clear that his upbringing and values were behind his reversal of a policy on gambling even Mr Blair's admirers struggled to explain. "I come from a background with a very strong family with a strong religious upbringing where I was taught to think about the importance of the work ethic and treating people fairly. When you look at the issue of casinos, these areas that wanted casinos to help regeneration, I kept saying to myself, 'Isn't there a better way of regenerating these areas?' I think that's the right way to look at this problem. "And when I looked at cannabis it seemed to me that we were sending out exactly the wrong signal to young people. At these ages people need to know that there is a view taken by society as a whole about the importance we attach to the use of drugs. And on drinking it's an issue too. When young people are getting access to drink very easily it's a concern and there are things we can do about it." Aides talk about relations with Nicolas Sarkozy, the new French president, and how the two men "get more done in 10 minutes than Blair and Chirac did in 10 years". Asked about Iraq, the Prime Minister reiterates that there will be no early withdrawal from Basra. "There is no timetable for exit. There are decisions we need to make to go from combat to overwatch. But we have obligations both to the government of Iraq and the international community." He also states that Afghanistan is "the frontline against the Taliban", and "we know if there was no Nato and coalition presence the Taliban would be moving back in." But, he says, "I would like to see burden-sharing". He talks about the death of Capt David Hicks last month in Helmand. The 26-year-old officer was mortally wounded but refused treatment for his shrapnel injuries. Mr Brown said: "That was an incredible story of courage. He refused morphine so he could carry on leading his men while they were under attack." Later this year the Prime Minister will publish a book with stories of British military heroism. Capt Hicks is now in line for a posthumous Victoria Cross. He would be the first officer to win one since Colonel "H" Jones in the Falklands. Mr Brown also for the first time explains why he is still determined to keep his family and children in particular away from the glare of publicity. It is in contrast to Mr Blair, and, some would say, Mr Cameron. "I choose to be in public life. My children didn't have the luxury of having that choice and it's right for me to make sure that wherever possible they have the freedom to grow up free of the glare of publicity. They are young children who want to make friends and it's important they experience that. "I must make sure they have an ordinary childhood. "The only purpose of being in politics is to serve your country. If you are not able to discharge that duty you should not be in that job." During his "coronation" period in June Mr Brown repeatedly said he would not be calling an election when he became prime minister as he did not feel the need for a mandate. When asked if that was still the case he just laughs. A lot of his supporters think Labour can be laughing all the way to an increased majority if their leader strikes now. |