PM makes a U-turn on 24-hour drink laws

London: Gordon Brown dramatically moved to reverse Labour's 24-hour drinking policy yesterday as he geared up for the next election.

In his first conference speech as prime minister, he was launching a full review of the laws in question with the aim of cracking down on binge drinking and tackling the sale of alcohol to under-18s.

With election fever sweeping through the Bournemouth gathering, his announcement gave the distinct impression of a leader clearing the decks for a poll that could be held in weeks.

Extending drinking hours was one of Tony Blair's most controversial ideas and parental concern has been growing about the effects on children and the safety of the streets after dark.

Brown made clear he is prepared to carry out a U-turn, as he has begun to do with plans for supercasinos and the downgrading of cannabis. "If it needs a reversal of policy we will do it," he said.

"We will review all the evidence, look at what's happening, and if a change needs to be made I will not hesitate to make the change in the interests of the country. Where there are things that are wrong and where mistakes have been made, we will look at those things and we will change those things.

"That's why on casinos we are looking again, that's why on cannabis we are looking again, that's why on 24-hour drinking we are looking again. I will not hesitate to change policy if I think it is the right thing to do," he said.