Brown urged to adopt 'radical' manifesto to retain traditional support

GORDON Brown has faced renewed pressure to adopt a "core vote" election strategy as 40 left-wing MPs backed calls for a radical manifesto to shore up Labour's traditional support.

The group said yesterday that the "strained" loyalties of working class heartlands should be restored with a manifesto that pledged to divert more resources from the rich to fund jobs, benefits and pensions.

A "massive" injection of public investment, social responsibilities for banks, renewed trade union rights and an abandonment of "market fundamentalism" were also on their wish list.

The so-called "Coalition for Labour Victory" is fronted by former minister Michael Meacher and includes influential backbencher Jon Cruddas, tipped as a possible future leader.

Mr Brown last month made an explicit appeal to middle-class voters and vowed to campaign on "New Labour" values in a clear signal that he would not adopt a core vote strategy.

Mr Meacher said: "Labour can win if it is prepared to be radical. Policies aimed at jobs, homes and redistribution will resound with Labour voters whose loyalties have been strained. And floating voters have supported higher taxes for the highly paid and also want to see bailed-out banks repay the community."