LONDON - Beleaguered British Prime Minister Gordon Brown will attempt to regain the political initiative Wednesday by unveiling a legislative programme for the year ahead.
After a punishing defeat at local elections and infighting within the ruling Labour Party over poorly judged tax reforms, the government says it wants to show it is "on the side of the British people."
The new measures will include reforms to the regulation of the banking industry and new support for the housing market amid concerns that property prices are falling fast.
Fears were fuelled Tuesday when a memo being carried by Housing Minister Caroline Flint forecast that house prices would drop by five to 10 percent "at best" this year.
The minister inadvertently revealed the briefing paper to photographers, leading to blown-up pictures of the words appearing in many newspapers.
In his new programme, Brown is also expected to offer to hand over power to local communities to have more say over their lives, including by granting new rights for the public to scrutinise the work of councils, police forces and health bodies.
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