国际英语新闻：British PM launches re-election campaign

LONDON, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- British Prime Minister Gordon Brown launched his re-election campaign on Saturday, calling on the public to take a second look at his Labor Party.

"We must secure the recovery, not put it at risk," Brown said as he launched the campaign under the slogan "A Future Fair For All" at a rally in Coventry, central England. "We must support new industries and future jobs."

"While we will reduce the deficit, and reduce it by half, we must protect and not cut frontline services," he said as he laid out the Labor Party's vision for the country's economy. "We must stand up for the many, not the few."

Brown said he knew Labor was not perfect, but urged voters to take a second look at his party and a long hard look at the opposition Conservative Party.

"I know that Labor has not done everything right and I know, really I know. I'm not perfect. But I know where I come from and I know what I stand for and I know who I came into politics to represent," he said.

Brown said the Conservatives "are not the party of Britain's mainstream majority and have policies that give most benefit for the few."

The rally was attended by a host of senior Labor figures, including Business Secretary Peter Mandelson, Chancellor of the Exchequer Alistair Darling and Home Secretary Alan Johnson.

Although the prime minister has not yet named a date for the general election, it is most likely to take place on May 6. The latest poll showed that the Conservatives' lead over Labor has grown significantly in the past fortnight.