IT is clear Gordon Brown is haunted by the Labour Party's post-war demons.

The demons which saw Clement Attlee's 1945 election landslide end in ignominious failure six years later. And the demons which saw the party's return to office in 1974 descend into economic ruin and the Winter of Discontent within five chaotic years.

Although the polls and weak opposition suggest otherwise, history teaches Labour not to take for granted a third term in government.

This is perhaps why Mr Brown yesterday reminded the party faithful of the lessons of the past, just in case they thought victory at the next election is guaranteed.

This, however, is a markedly different Labour government from its predecessors led by Attlee, Wilson and Callaghan, all of which were defeated as a result of economic mismanagement.

New Labour has convinced a great many people that it can be trusted with the economy. And for much of that the Chancellor can take the credit.

It is strange, therefore, for Alan Milburn to suggest that "simply screaming louder and louder about our achievements in the past is not necessarily the way to get through to the public".

With Tony Blair and his colleagues dogged by events in Iraq, showing that the economy is in a safe pair of hands is a vital message to get across loud and clear.

Whatever the bickering and in-fighting in and around Downing Street, both Mr Blair and Mr Milburn must come to terms with the fact that Mr Brown will have to play a pivotal role in the election campaign to ensure Labour's demons are laid to rest.