100 days ago: Moving in at 'Number 10'

100 Days of Labour Government

The Labour party says that it has made a "flying start" in improving Britain's economy, education and health services.

On the eve of the anniversary the Deputy Prime Minister, John Prescott, announced a government plan to publish an annual business-style report on its peformance. He said the Government was determined not to be complacent.

Prescott hails the Government's "cracking start"

The Deputy Prime Minister interviewed on the Today programme

Mr Prescott said the report would be the equivalent of a company chief executive's report to the "shareholders of Britain plc".

Mr Prescott told a news conference that Labour had made a "cracking start" in the areas of education, the economy, the health service, crime and the environment. "This is not the end of our crusade, but only the beginning. But we can be proud of what we have achieved in only 100 days."

There was a glitch at the news conference when the party released to journalists copies of a day-by-day timetable of its successes so far: crucially, it stopped ten days short of the official 100-day mark of August 9th. The list finished at about Day 90, leaving out what are widely seen as a series of recent Labour 'banana skins,' including:

• Failure to win the Uxbridge by-election
• Foreign Secretary Robin Cook's marriage break-up
• A row over alleged media management
• Controversy over Trade and Industry Minister Lord Simon's shareholdings
• Claims of a whispering campaign within the party against suicide MP Gordon McMaster.

Conservatives Deride Government Record

Redwood admires Labour's PR skills....

.....and attacks its economic record

His sentiments were echoed by Conservative MP John Redwood. He said Labour's handling of the economy, especially recent interest rate rises, was bad for homeowners and for savers planning their pensions.

While Mr Redwood said he was impressed by Labour's energy in getting its story across to the media, he accused the party of carrying out different policies from those promised in its election campaign.