Brown launches appeal to woo middle-class voters

GORDON Brown launched a direct appeal to middle-class voters today, as it became clear Labour would steer clear of a narrow "core vote" strategy for the general election campaign.

The Prime Minister accused the Tories of planning to "squeeze" middle Britain as he prepared to deliver a major speech putting "social mobility" at the heart of his pitch to the electorate.

But as skirmishes continued ahead of the poll, the Opposition dismissed Mr Brown as "weak".