This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk_politics/7345928.stm

The article has changed 10 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Minister admits 'difficult times' Brown says economy is sole focus
(about 3 hours later)
The government and people of Britain face "difficult times", Communities Secretary Hazel Blears has admitted. Prime Minister Gordon Brown has said he understands people's worries about the economy but has insisted that keeping it on track is his "sole focus".
Her comments come as the Tories seek to pin the blame for the present economic crisis on Prime Minister Gordon Brown. "We are on the side of home owners, business and individuals," he said.
Ms Blears played down suggestions the cabinet was split, saying it was more "cooperative" than under Tony Blair. People's concerns were "understandable" on the economy but Mr Brown insisted he had set the right "long term course".
She defended Mr Brown's performance, saying he was "a pretty serious person who thinks very deeply about decisions and is also a man of conviction". A poll suggests 68% lack confidence in him handling the economic crisis, while Tories claim his reputation for economic prudence is "in tatters".
Mr Brown's decision to axe the 10p starting tax rate has been criticised by many Labour MPs, his opinion poll ratings have been poor recently and he faces a struggle to get an extension of terror detention through Parliament.Mr Brown's decision to axe the 10p starting tax rate has been criticised by many Labour MPs, his opinion poll ratings have been poor recently and he faces a struggle to get an extension of terror detention through Parliament.
At the same time there has been growing economic gloom as the fall-out from the credit crunch grows - Mr Brown is preparing to travel to the US on Tuesday to meet finance chiefs and discuss the global economic crisis.
'More cooperative'
"It's difficult times for government, it's difficult times in the country," Ms Blears told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.
I think with Gordon Brown, what you've got is a pretty serious person who thinks very deeply about decisions and is also a man of conviction Hazel BlearsCommunities Secretary Tories pin economic woes on PMI think with Gordon Brown, what you've got is a pretty serious person who thinks very deeply about decisions and is also a man of conviction Hazel BlearsCommunities Secretary Tories pin economic woes on PM
At the same time there has been growing economic gloom as the fall-out from the credit crunch grows.
Mr Brown is preparing to travel to the US to meet finance chiefs and discuss the global crisis.
Earlier Communities Secretary Hazel Blears said the government and the people of Britain faced "difficult times".
She played down suggestions the cabinet was split, saying it was more "cooperative" than under Tony Blair.
She defended Mr Brown's performance, saying he was "a pretty serious person who thinks very deeply about decisions and is also a man of conviction".
"It's difficult times for government. It's difficult times in the country," Ms Blears told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.
"And I entirely understand that people are concerned about their own finances, they're concerned about homes, utility bills, cost of living."And I entirely understand that people are concerned about their own finances, they're concerned about homes, utility bills, cost of living.
"That's the reality of it, but actually, the test of any government is when you're in difficult times, how do you perform? Do you stand firm?""That's the reality of it, but actually, the test of any government is when you're in difficult times, how do you perform? Do you stand firm?"
However, Ms Blears said the Cabinet under Mr Brown was "more co-operative" than it ever was under Tony Blair.
"I've heard all these stories about people in the Cabinet disagreeing...I've seen more joined up working. There's much more integrated policy making now than I have seen before," she said.
TrustTrust
Her comments come as Shadow Chancellor George Osborne prepares to pin the blame for the present economic crisis on Mr Brown, in a speech to the Policy Exchange think tank. Ms Blears also dismissed suggestions of cabinet splits: "I've heard all these stories about people in the cabinet disagreeing... I've seen more joined-up working. There's much more integrated policy making now than I have seen before."
"At the root of the problem is the failure of the government's economic policy," he will say. Her comments come as shadow chancellor George Osborne pinned the blame for the present economic crisis on Mr Brown, in a speech to the Policy Exchange think tank.
"At the root of the problem is the failure of the government's economic policy," he said.
Meanwhile a Financial Times/Harris opinion poll suggests 68% of voters are "not confident at all" in Labour's ability to handle the crisis.Meanwhile a Financial Times/Harris opinion poll suggests 68% of voters are "not confident at all" in Labour's ability to handle the crisis.
The survey of 1,122 people in the UK was conducted online between 27 March and 8 April.The survey of 1,122 people in the UK was conducted online between 27 March and 8 April.