Darling says downturn deeper than feared

By Christina Fincher

LONDON (Reuters) - The economic downturn is likely to be deeper and last longer than originally feared and it might turn out to be the worst for 60 years, Chancellor Alistair Darling said on Saturday.

The frank comments in a newspaper interview suggested concern at the top of the government that the economic slide will make it difficult for Prime Minister Gordon Brown to recover ground and fend off a resurgent opposition Conservative Party.

Labour has seen its opinion poll ratings plummet in the last six months and it is now languishing 21 points behind the Conservatives.

A national election must be held by mid-2010 at the latest.

Darling told the Guardian newspaper that the government had failed to get its message across and would battle to persuade a sceptical electorate it deserved another term in power.

The Guardian quoted Darling as saying economic times for the country were "arguably the worst they've been in 60 years".

"I think it's going to be more profound and long-lasting than people thought," he said.

His comments came just days before a planned package of measures designed to buffer the economy and help the government regain the political initiative.