Britain's PM unveils policies, ponders reality TV role

LONDON, England (AP) -- Britain's beleaguered Prime Minister Gordon Brown won a rare cheer from his own ranks after unveiling a raft of new policies Wednesday, part of move to reinvigorate his tenure that could also include appearing on a reality TV show.

In a speech to Parliament previewing his legislative program for next year, Brown outlined plans for greater customer protection when banks fail, an increased number of apprenticeships in Britain, and an offer of better working rights for temporary workers. He also promised sweeping reforms of public services.

"Building a more prosperous Britain and a fairer Britain is the purpose of the draft legislative program published today for debate in this House and the country," Brown said.

The speech came one day after Treasury chief Alistair Darling pledged new help for low- and middle-income workers, making clear Brown's intent to build political momentum.

The taciturn Scot led his party to their worst municipal election defeats in 40 years earlier this month and has seen his reputation for economic competence crumble over the credit crunch and bungled tax changes.

With a possible special election defeat looming next week, and tough parliamentary battles over terror laws, abortion and stem cell research pending, one governing Labour lawmaker has suggested Brown is likely to be soon deposed.

Opposition Conservative party leader David Cameron dismissed Brown's planned new laws after his speech Wednesday. Brown has "run out of road, run out of money, run out of ideas," he said.

Brown, the ex-Treasury chief who replaced Tony Blair in June, could also be looking to polish his image with a charm blitz centered on an "Apprentice"-style TV show for young would-be lawmakers.

The plan was disclosed in a document carried from a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday by Communities Secretary Hazel Blears. It recommends that Brown should star as a judge in a new British Broadcasting Corp. reality TV show.

Close-up photographs of the document published by British media showed how it listed details of a planned TV program called "Junior P.M.," which the note says would be "a golden opportunity" for Brown to ditch his sometimes glum image.

A spokesman for Blears confirmed there has been contact with the producers over the proposals.

Cameron taunted that Brown should forget about plans for the show and instead call a national election. That would "give everyone the chance to stand up to the prime minister and say: 'You're fired'," he said.

Brown has made repeated attempts to soften his sometimes dour demeanor in recent weeks: holding talks with pop star Shakira and recording a video message for "American Idol."

But the efforts brought little reward in municipal polls on May 1, when Labour lost hundreds of local council seats and saw the main opposition Conservatives snatch control of London's City Hall for the first time.

Frank Field, a Labour lawmaker and briefly a minister under Blair, said on Sunday he would be very surprised if Brown led the party into the next national election, which must be called by mid-2010. He said Brown's personality was a "mega-problem" for the government.

Voters used local elections to bitterly protest the impact of rising food and fuel costs and a tax change which saw the lowest, 10 percent, rate scrapped.

Treasury chief Darling said Tuesday he would compensate millions of those who lost out -- pledging 2.7 billion pounds, about $5.3 billion, to help low and middle income workers through increased tax allowances.

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