Brown aims for fresh start with new laws

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown will unveil proposals on Tuesday to step up anti-terrorism measures and tackle a crippling housing shortage in a new policy platform meant to give fresh energy to the ruling Labour Party

Brown, who took over from Tony Blair in June, needs a new start after his decision to pull back from calling a snap election in October undermined his prestige and gave a boost to his Conservative opponents.

Laws to be introduced in the year ahead will be set out in a speech to parliament by Queen Elizabeth in an formal ceremony.

The programme will include a plan to build 3 million houses to tackle a housing shortage, tougher counter-terrorism measures and a climate change law that aims to cut carbon emissions by 60 percent from 1990 levels by 2050.

Brown and opposition Conservative leader David Cameron will then cross swords over the proposals in a parliamentary debate.

Brown's assured handling of a series of crises in his first months in office helped Labour open an opinion poll lead of as much as 11 points over the Conservatives and tempted Brown to call a snap election -- two-and-a-half years before he needs to.

But he was forced into an embarrassing climbdown after new proposals to cut taxes and help first-time home buyers led to a Conservative surge in the polls. Labour has yet to recover, with one poll last week showing the party trailing by five points.


GRUMBLING

That has led to grumbling among some Labour insiders that the party is stuck in a rut after a decade in power and demands for Brown to show he has the vision to lead the party forward.

Warwick University politics professor Wyn Grant said Tuesday's speech was an opportunity for Brown to show he had a vision and "a coherent underlying set of principles".

So far, Brown has kept faith with most of the centrist policies that brought Blair three election victories while scrapping controversial proposals such as supercasinos and distancing himself from the unpopular war in Iraq.

Brown says he wants to cater to Britons' rising aspirations after a decade of solid economic growth. Critics say he lacks vision and accuse him of stealing Conservative policies.

Housing Minister Yvette Cooper said Brown's programme offered "opportunities for families right across the country".

"It's simply not fair if people aren't getting the education opportunities they need or they aren't getting the affordable housing they need," she told Sky News. "It's right that we should do this and it's just a real shame the Conservatives are continuing to oppose it."

Brown has already outlined his legislative proposals in July but is expected to give more detail on Tuesday.

Controversially, he wants to try again to extend the time police may hold terrorism suspects before they must be charged.

Parliament blocked Blair's plan to extend the pre-charge detention period in terrorism cases to 90 days from 14 in November 2005, compromising on 28 days. Police Minister Tony McNulty has indicated Brown wants to extend this to 56 days.

On housing, the government wants a major housebuilding programme to provide shelter for thousands of people struggling to afford a home after a decade of rising property prices.

But the government faces fierce resistance from campaigners who want to protect Britain's scenic countryside.