Memories of lost daughter and son's illness reduce Brown to tears on TV

GORDON Brown openly wept as he talked about the death of his infant daughter and serious illness suffered by his son during a television interview, it emerged yesterday.

• Sarah and Gordon Brown in 2002 after the loss of their daughter

The Prime Minister, whose daughter Jennifer died just ten days after she was born in 2002, after she suffered a brain haemorrhage, revealed his anguish in a conversation with Piers Morgan to be aired next weekend on ITV.

The interview, which will be shown alongside footage of his wife Sarah and his two brothers, is believed to have been scheduled as part of a concerted effort to improve the Prime Minister's poll ratings ahead of a general election campaign that will, for the first time, involve a series of televised leadership debates.

During two-and-a-half hours of questioning, Mr Brown is understood to have discussed the moment he realised his little girl was not going to live, and he is said to have spoken of his distress upon learning his three-year-old son Fraser, who has cystic fibrosis, had a short life expectancy.

Former government spin-doctor Alistair Campbell said he did not believe the show of emotion was a premeditated act designed to gain support as speculation grows about the possible date for a general election. Mr Campbell insisted the tears were genuine, heading off criticism that Mr Brown's willingness to discuss his family contradicted his proclamation during the Labour conference in 2008 that "My children aren't props; they're people."

"The only communication that works now really is where people are being utterly authentic," Mr Campbell said.

"If Gordon just talks about some of these issues as he really feels then maybe the public will see a different side. I don't believe Gordon went on television with the purpose of crying."

The news of Mr Brown's tears came as speculation spread he was preparing for an April election, buoyed by polls that showed the gap between the Conservatives and Labour was narrowing.

Data released yesterday by ICM showed support for David Cameron's Tories had dipped one point to 39 per cent, Labour remained unchanged on 30 per cent and the Liberal Democrats were up two points on 20 per cent.

The findings fuelled predictions of a possible hung-parliament and, if repeated at an election, would leave the Tories between eight and 14 seats short of an overall majority.

The government is understood to be planning a March budget, before going to the country on 6 May, but poorer than expected growth figures recorded last quarter have led to suggestions Mr Brown could be tempted to call the election sooner. Senior advisers are said to be pushing for an April poll, fearful that the next quarter's GDP results could see Britain plunge back into recession.

Mr Brown yesterday insisted the Labour Party should not be counted out of the election, stating: "I'm not complacent, but Labour can still win it."

But the Conservatives played down the significance of the latest poll findings. Shadow business spokesman Ken Clarke said: "I haven't seen anything significant happening in the opinion polls."