The Sun drops support for Labour
Updated on 30 September 2009
As the Sun drops its support for Labour, Gordon Brown insists the newspaper's decision to back the Conservatives at the next election does not mean the result is a foregone conclusion.
Hours after the prime minister gave a speech to the Labour party conference in Brighton, the Sun printed a front page with the headline "Labour's lost it" and the newspaper confirmed it is no longer supporting the party.
In 1992, the Sun claimed it had helped the Conservatives beat Labour in the general election and the newspaper backed Labour when they claimed a landslide victory in 1997.
However, there is some debate over the Sun's influence because there are suggestions the newspaper chooses to support the party it believes will win power.
Mr Brown said: "It's the British people that decide the election, it's the British people's views that I am interested in.
"I think Sun readers actually, when they look at what I say, they will agree with what I said.
"Obviously, you want newspapers to be for you. We would have liked everybody to be on our side, but the people decide.
"I've got an old-fashioned opinion that you look to newspapers for news not opinions."
The Sun's declarations of election support:
Labour's Lost It - 30 September 2009
The Sun Backs Blair - 18 March 1997
Please Turn Out The Lights - 9 April 1992
