UK's Brown to use Lord Mayor's banquet to launch his re-election campaign

London, Nov.16 (ANI): British Prime Minister Gordon Brown will use the impartial setting of the Lord Mayor's banquet tonight to launch his New Labour Party's campaign for re-election six months down the line

According to The Times, Brown will outline a programme of populist measures in the Queen's Speech and challenge Conservative Party leader David Cameron to support them.

It is expected that he will emphasise his determination to carry on governing with a political programme designed to exploit Labour's differences with the Conservatives on health, education and the economy.

He will also use his speech to reveal plans to provide free care at home for about 350,000 of the neediest people and to tear up "risky" bankers' contracts.

Not all of the Bills can become law before the election but Labour intends to use them to "smoke out" the Conservatives on policy or put them on the spot.

"It is the most political Queen's Speech in 12 years," a Cabinet minister told The Times.

In his speech at Guildhall, he will say that Britain's foreign policy must be "both patriotic and internationalist".

He will add that the policy must exploit Britain's strengths and defend its interests "not by retreating into isolation but by advancing in international co-operation".

With Labour trailing heavily in the polls, Brown is pinning his hopes on a long election campaign focusing on an expected economic recovery and public services.

He has been buoyed by the party's victory last week in the Glasgow North-East by-election. (ANI)