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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Brown promises 'can-do attitude' | Brown promises 'can-do attitude' |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Gordon Brown has said a "can-do attitude" will help the British economy get through the current downturn and prepare for future recovery. | Gordon Brown has said a "can-do attitude" will help the British economy get through the current downturn and prepare for future recovery. |
| In his final press conference of 2008, Mr Brown said he regretted the fact that the UK had not been "unaffected" by the global downturn. | In his final press conference of 2008, Mr Brown said he regretted the fact that the UK had not been "unaffected" by the global downturn. |
| He pledged investment in key industries, adding that the UK must be "a beacon of hope and opportunity". | |
| But he said there had been "no promise of support" for car maker Jaguar. | |
| 'Task ahead' | |
| Amid reports that the car firm is seeking financial help, Mr Brown said the government wanted to do "everything it could" for the car industry and was talking to all the largest producers about the challenges they face as sales fall. | |
| But he insisted that the "first responsibility" for Jaguar's position lay with its owners, Indian car giant Tata. | |
| Addressing economic issues, Mr Brown said the government would make a series of announcements early in 2009 to support the economy through what he said were "uncertain and difficult times". | |
| He promised more support for small business and focus on investment and employment in environmental and digital industries. | |
| "Our job is to provide real help to families and businesses now," he said. "That is the task ahead." | |
| Mr Brown said the action the government had taken to boost the economy in recent months, including a controversial VAT cut, was already "making a difference". | |
| However, he admitted that it was proving a "challenge" to get banks to restore lending to normal levels. | |
| He added: "Britain can and must be a beacon of hope and opportunity for the future. With our fighting spirit and our can-do attitude, I am confident that we can meet all the challenges ahead." | |
| Mr Brown said he had given "no thought" to an election in 2009. |