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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Brown says economy is sole focus | Brown says economy is sole focus |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Prime Minister Gordon Brown has said he understands people's fears over the economy and insisted that keeping it on track was his "sole focus". | Prime Minister Gordon Brown has said he understands people's fears over the economy and insisted that keeping it on track was his "sole focus". |
| "We are on the side of home owners, business and individuals," he said. | "We are on the side of home owners, business and individuals," he said. |
| As in past crises, ministers would do "everything in our power to keep the economy moving forward", he said. | As in past crises, ministers would do "everything in our power to keep the economy moving forward", he said. |
| He spoke as a poll suggested 68% lack confidence in him handling the economic crisis - and the Tories said his economic reputation was "in tatters". | He spoke as a poll suggested 68% lack confidence in him handling the economic crisis - and the Tories said his economic reputation was "in tatters". |
| 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 PM | 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 PM |
| Mr Brown is preparing to travel to the US this week to meet finance chiefs and discuss the global crisis. | Mr Brown is preparing to travel to the US this week to meet finance chiefs and discuss the global crisis. |
| In a visit to east London, alongside Labour's London mayor candidate Ken Livingstone, he said: "This government is aware of the insecurities people feel... | In a visit to east London, alongside Labour's London mayor candidate Ken Livingstone, he said: "This government is aware of the insecurities people feel... |
| "We are going to continue, as we did when faced with difficult decisions in 1998 and 2004, to do everything in our power to keep the economy moving forward." | "We are going to continue, as we did when faced with difficult decisions in 1998 and 2004, to do everything in our power to keep the economy moving forward." |
| He said the UK had been through difficult times in the past and he was "utterly satisfied" that he was taking the right steps. | He said the UK had been through difficult times in the past and he was "utterly satisfied" that he was taking the right steps. |
| "We are the only economy of the major economies that has continued to grow without a major recession in the last 10 years," he added. | |
| The prime minister has faced difficulties on a number of fronts over recent days, with the decision to axe the 10p starting tax rate criticised by many Labour MPs and a rebellion expected over plans to extend the limit for detaining terror suspects without charge. | The prime minister has faced difficulties on a number of fronts over recent days, with the decision to axe the 10p starting tax rate criticised by many Labour MPs and a rebellion expected over plans to extend the limit for detaining terror suspects without charge. |
| Conviction | Conviction |
| There have also been reports of splits within the cabinet. | There have also been reports of splits within the cabinet. |
| But Communities Secretary Hazel Blears rejected the suggestion the cabinet was divided, saying it was more "cooperative" than under Tony Blair. | But Communities Secretary Hazel Blears rejected the suggestion the cabinet was divided, saying it was more "cooperative" than 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." | "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 George OsborneShadow chancellor | At the root of the problem is the failure of the government's economic policy George OsborneShadow chancellor |
| 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". | 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. | "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?" |
| Three pillars | |
| But 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. | "At the root of the problem is the failure of the government's economic policy," he said. |
| Mr Osborne said Mr Brown had "rested his claim to competence on three pillars - stability, prudence and competitiveness". | |
| "Instead, after a decade of worldwide growth, we have ended up with housing boom followed by bust, spending followed by debt, and a country finding it more and more difficult to compete," he said. | |
| "We can now see that the fiscal rules have failed on almost every level - they lack independent credibility." | |
| He claimed Mr Brown had "failed to fix the roof when the sun is shining", with the consequence of families having to pay higher taxes. | |
| 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. | |
| How has the economic situation affected you? Are you having difficulties paying your mortgage? Do you have concerns about your job security? Send us your comments using the form below. | |