British prime minister Gordon Brown played down the damage to his electoral prospects today after the Sunnewspaper withdrew its support.
Mr Brown insisted that voters and not newspapers decided the government, urging people to take a close look at his policies.
In a round of broadcast interviews, Mr Brown said: “It’s the British people that decide the election, it’s the British people’s views that I am interested in.”
Mr Brown told GMTV: "I think Sunreaders actually, when they look at what I say, they will agree with what I said."
Asked whether the tabloid’s support could decide the next general election, as it was reputed to have done in 1992 by condemning Labour’s leader Neil Kinnock, Mr Brown replied: “No.”
He added: “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.”
Readers of the Sundo not want the newspaper turned into a "Tory fanzine", Lord Mandelson said today.
The Business Secretary seemed relaxed about the announcement from the top selling tabloid that they were no longer supporting Labour.
Lord Mandelson, speaking in Brighton to publicise tomorrow's increase in the national minimum wage, said: "The proprietor might have changed his mind but I don't think the readers want the Sunto set on New Labour.
"The last thing Sunreaders want is to see their newspaper turned into a Tory fanzine. They want a newspaper, not a propaganda sheet."
Derek Simpson, joint leader of Unite, who accompanied Lord Mandelson to a hotel in Brighton for the minimum wage launch, said he wasn't surprised by the Sun'sannouncement today.
“Gordon Brown sounded more like a Labour Prime Minister than ever during his speech to the conference yesterday and obviously The Sun couldn’t stomach it."
David Cameron warmly welcomed the the Sun'sdecision. "Obviously I want the biggest possible coalition for change in Britain. I am delighted that the Sunhave come out and supported the Conservative Party," he said.
“I think they have seen the Government is exhausted and out of ideas and they see a regenerated, refreshed Conservative Party ready to serve.”