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 6 | Version 7 |
|---|---|
| Brown says economy is sole focus | Brown says economy is sole focus |
| (about 2 hours 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 will travel to the US this week to meet finance chiefs and discuss the global crisis. | Mr Brown will 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. | "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 |
| Communities Secretary Hazel Blears rejected the suggestion of splits within the cabinet, saying it was more "cooperative" than under Tony Blair. | Communities Secretary Hazel Blears rejected the suggestion of splits within the cabinet, 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. |
| At a press conference with Turkey's foreign affairs minister, Foreign Secretary David Miliband dismissed suggestions it was time to replace Mr Brown. | At a press conference with Turkey's foreign affairs minister, Foreign Secretary David Miliband dismissed suggestions it was time to replace Mr Brown. |
| He said: "Gordon Brown was the right man to become prime minister last year and is the right man to lead the Labour Party this year." | He said: "Gordon Brown was the right man to become prime minister last year and is the right man to lead the Labour Party this year." |
| 'Sorrow' | 'Sorrow' |
| However, Labour MP Graham Stringer, who is among those opposed to the abolition of the 10p income tax rate, said: "There is no doubt that people's expectations were extremely high when Gordon became PM and I think it's those high expectations not being realised that has disappointed. | However, Labour MP Graham Stringer, who is among those opposed to the abolition of the 10p income tax rate, said: "There is no doubt that people's expectations were extremely high when Gordon became PM and I think it's those high expectations not being realised that has disappointed. |
| "And that comes over. It's sorrow, more than anger, with Gordon." | "And that comes over. It's sorrow, more than anger, with Gordon." |
| He added: "We need to change the mood music - and we really need to be on people's side." | |
| Shadow chancellor George Osborne blamed the present economic crisis on Mr Brown, in a speech to the Policy Exchange think tank. | Shadow chancellor George Osborne blamed 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". | 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. | "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. |
| Liberal Democrat treasury spokesman Vince Cable said not enough had been done to avert the banks crisis. | Liberal Democrat treasury spokesman Vince Cable said not enough had been done to avert the banks crisis. |
| He said: "Soaring inflation is further squeezing the budgets of families already struggling to make ends meet. | He said: "Soaring inflation is further squeezing the budgets of families already struggling to make ends meet. |
| "The government's tax grab has only served to exacerbate our mounting economic problems. | "The government's tax grab has only served to exacerbate our mounting economic problems. |
| "Ministers must now act to ease the tax burden on the lower paid and intervene to ensure that spiralling debt costs do not lead to a recession." | "Ministers must now act to ease the tax burden on the lower paid and intervene to ensure that spiralling debt costs do not lead to a recession." |
| 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. |
| 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. | 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. |