Brown: Returning to the frontline as Labour prepares to announce May 5 election

The chancellor has put himself at the heart of Labour's re-election campaign with a pledge to lift the level of home ownership.

In a foray into traditional Tory territory, Gordon Brown said that more people "must and will have the chance to own their own home".

Brown pledged a "further major extension of Britain's home-owning, asset-owning, property-owning democracy".

Some 100 government owned sites, such as former hospitals and MoD land, will be developed to provide more affordable homes.

"The Britain I believe in is a Britain of ambition and aspiration where there is no ceiling on talent, no cap on potential, and no limit to opportunity," he said.

"And this Britain of ambition and aspiration is a Britain where more and more people must and will have the chance to own their own homes."

"With home ownership expanding into new areas and new groups, today I see Britain as one of the worlds greatest wealth owning democracies where the widely held chance for not just some but all to own assets marks out a new dimension in citizenship and makes Britain a beacon for the world."

Brown is planning new partnerships with lenders to offer discounted or subsidised mortgage deals for low income groups.

The government is in the advanced stage of discussions with the Council of Mortgage Lenders to help an extra 20,000 first time buyers by introducing private finance to fund equity loans.

Boost

Flanked by John Prescott, Brown pledged to lift home ownership from 70 to 75 per cent across the country.

Labour has also detail proposals for community regeneration, a 50 per cent increase in social housing, the elimination of rough sleeping and halving of numbers of people in temporary accommodation.

Greater use of shared equity schemes will also be made to assist low income groups get a foot on the housing ladder.

John Prescott said the Social HomeBuy scheme would help councils and housing associations to deliver the government's
five-year strategy on sustainable communities.

"Working tenants will be able to realise their home ownership aspirations without leaving their existing home, meaning a better mix of incomes in neighbourhoods, and more sustainable communities," he said.

Brown's back

The chancellor's announcement comes the day after he delivered an upbeat message as he put the election centre-stage during a political session of the Cabinet in Downing Street yesterday.

His return to the frontline today is being seen as fresh evidence that Alan Milburn will be sidelined as the general election date nears.

With a May 5 election set to be called on Monday, Labour MPs and candidates hope Brown's return will kick-start the party's faltering bid for a third term.