Brown shrugs off Labour critics

By David Clarke and Jodie Ginsberg

LONDON (Reuters) - Prime Minister Gordon Brown, who faces his first major electoral test this week, shrugged off critics from within his party on Monday and said his priority was guiding the economy through difficult times.

Trailing in the opinion polls, facing industrial unrest and simmering discontent within the Labour Party, Brown is under severe pressure ahead of local elections that will be read for signs of the possible outcome of a national vote due by 2010.

A survey on Monday showed Boris Johnson, candidate for the Conservative party in the election for London mayor on May 1, had surged ahead of Labour incumbent Ken Livingstone, echoing national polls that show falling support for Labour.

Former Labour fundraiser Lord Levy was reported on Sunday as saying Brown's predecessor Tony Blair believed Brown could not defeat Conservative leader David Cameron in a national election. Blair's office has denied the claim.

It came after a string of public criticisms of Brown from within his party. He played down the in-fighting on Monday.

"The issues ahead of us are making sure that not only can Britain come through these very difficult economic times that we face, but also that we are better prepared for the future," Brown told the BBC.

"I'm going to concentrate on the job ahead, on the priorities that matter for the British people and not on gossip or rumour, or statements made by one or two people."

ELECTORAL DEFEAT