Gordon Brown has pledged to continue with the task in hand of steering Britain on a path of stability in tough economic times.

Speaking following the defeat of Tamsin Dunwoody, Labour’s candidate in the Crewe and Nantwich by-election, the Prime Minister praised Tamsin for running an excellent campaign although he acknowledged that the message of the British public is clear and unequivocal.

Gordon Brown said: “Let me first of all say Tamsin Dunwoody was a great candidate. An excellent candidate and I appreciate everything she did and the campaign.

"The message that we have got is that people are concerned. They are concerned about rising food prices, rising petrol prices. People are concerned rightly about gas and electricity bills.

"They are concerned about what is happening to the economy. I think the message that I have to get to people is that we are unequivocal and clear in our direction, that we are going to address and are addressing these problems.

“We will continue to do so. My task is to steer the British economy through what have been very difficult times in every country in the world and that I will continue to do with a clear direction that shows that we will address all the problems that people are facing.”

He added: “The task I have been entrusted with is to make sure that we can come through the difficult economic times we face. I hear what people are saying – I go round the country a great deal – and I understand people’s concerns.

“People are worried that after ten years in which standards of living have been rising. We have a problem, because of rising oil prices, with petrol prices, with food prices, with gas and electricity prices. Although it is happening in every country of the world, I understand that the message of the British public is clear and unequivocal.

“They want us to address these challenges and I believe that I can do so. That is the task that I have set for myself: that we take this economy through difficult times into a future where we have both fairness for all and prosperity for the British people. And that is the challenge that I’m going to meet for the British people.”