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Cabinet in Liverpool for meeting Cabinet in Liverpool for meeting
(9 minutes later)
Prime Minister Gordon Brown and his top team are in Liverpool for the third cabinet meeting to be held outside London since September.Prime Minister Gordon Brown and his top team are in Liverpool for the third cabinet meeting to be held outside London since September.
Mr Brown is on a tour of the English regions and Wales to explain how the government is handling the downturn.Mr Brown is on a tour of the English regions and Wales to explain how the government is handling the downturn.
Urban regeneration and capital spending programmes will be major themes when ministers gather in the North West.Urban regeneration and capital spending programmes will be major themes when ministers gather in the North West.
The idea of holding cabinet meetings outside of London has been criticised by the Conservatives as a "gimmick".The idea of holding cabinet meetings outside of London has been criticised by the Conservatives as a "gimmick".
'Future investment''Future investment'
The government is keen to show it is taking action to fight the downturn and protect jobs.The government is keen to show it is taking action to fight the downturn and protect jobs.
Business Secretary Lord Mandelson will announce a £35m start-up programme for the North West region to help get new companies off the ground.Business Secretary Lord Mandelson will announce a £35m start-up programme for the North West region to help get new companies off the ground.
He will tell a business meeting in Salford: "We cannot and must not fail now to invest in our future.He will tell a business meeting in Salford: "We cannot and must not fail now to invest in our future.
It appears Alistair Darling is already trying to wriggle out of the economic forecasts he made just weeks ago George OsborneShadow chancellor Brown tour: View from the regions We will not repeat the mistakes made in previous recessions of retrenchment Lord MandelsonBusiness Secretary Brown tour: View from the regions
"Otherwise we will not take advantage of the upturn or secure Britain's long-term competitiveness.""Otherwise we will not take advantage of the upturn or secure Britain's long-term competitiveness."
And he will add: "We will not repeat the mistakes made in previous recessions of retrenchment - stop-go policies in public investment have reduced Britain's competitiveness over many decades."And he will add: "We will not repeat the mistakes made in previous recessions of retrenchment - stop-go policies in public investment have reduced Britain's competitiveness over many decades."
Chancellor Alistair Darling held a business breakfast meeting with regional leaders in Liverpool, as Mr Brown toured the city's regenerated docks area.Chancellor Alistair Darling held a business breakfast meeting with regional leaders in Liverpool, as Mr Brown toured the city's regenerated docks area.
The prime minister, accompanied by Culture Secretary Andy Burnham and North West Minister Beverley Hughes, took a boat ride around the Marina and the Albert Dock.The prime minister, accompanied by Culture Secretary Andy Burnham and North West Minister Beverley Hughes, took a boat ride around the Marina and the Albert Dock.
Mr Brown was also shown around the Museum of Liverpool, which is under construction.Mr Brown was also shown around the Museum of Liverpool, which is under construction.
The ministers were escorted around by TV writer Phil Redmond, creator of the TV series Hollyoaks and Brookside, and one of the main organisers of the city's year as European Capital of Culture.The ministers were escorted around by TV writer Phil Redmond, creator of the TV series Hollyoaks and Brookside, and one of the main organisers of the city's year as European Capital of Culture.
Later, ministers will gather for a "listening" event with about 200 local people, followed by a formal meeting of the cabinet.Later, ministers will gather for a "listening" event with about 200 local people, followed by a formal meeting of the cabinet.
Output forecasts
The Conservatives have challenged Mr Darling over his borrowing forecasts in the pre-Budget report.
Mr Brown met Rolls-Royce apprentices in Derby at the start of the trip
It follows a Financial Times interview with Mr Darling, who in November predicted that output would fall in the UK for the first two quarters of 2009, then start to recover.
He told the paper that projection was "based on the evidence we had at the time", adding: "In the current climate, no responsible finance minister could say that's the job done, far from it."
Shadow chancellor George Osborne said recent forecasts suggested borrowing could be up to £18bn higher next year than Mr Darling had forecast.
He said: "It appears Alistair Darling is already trying to wriggle out of the economic forecasts he made just weeks ago, which - as we pointed out at the time - were more optimistic than most commentators believed."
On Wednesday, Mr Brown visited Rolls-Royce in Derby to unveil an expansion of apprenticeships for British companies, which he said would help prepare the economy for a future recovery.
He said the £140m scheme would help create an extra 35,000 apprenticeship places in 2009 and 2010 and said the government was "doing everything to deal with what is a global financial crisis that is hitting Britain".
But the Conservatives said Mr Brown made apprenticeship announcements "every few months" and had failed to show any "fresh thinking".
Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg said he was concerned firms would be forced to scrap apprenticeship schemes because of the downturn.
'Worthwhile investment''Worthwhile investment'
The regional tour is one of several trips the prime minister has been on around Britain in the past few months. The regional tour is one of several trips the prime minister has been on around Britain in the past few months.Mr Brown met Rolls-Royce apprentices in Derby at the start of the trip
Last year the cabinet met in Birmingham and Leeds; before that the last time it had met outside London or Chequers was 1921.Last year the cabinet met in Birmingham and Leeds; before that the last time it had met outside London or Chequers was 1921.
West Yorkshire Police has revealed it spent £138,000 on security for the second cabinet meeting in Leeds.West Yorkshire Police has revealed it spent £138,000 on security for the second cabinet meeting in Leeds.
Mr Brown previously said the first cabinet meeting in Birmingham cost £62,000 excluding security expenditure.Mr Brown previously said the first cabinet meeting in Birmingham cost £62,000 excluding security expenditure.
However, Downing Street believes it is a "worthwhile investment" to have the cabinet hearing people's views in different parts of the country.However, Downing Street believes it is a "worthwhile investment" to have the cabinet hearing people's views in different parts of the country.
On Wednesday, Mr Brown visited Rolls-Royce in Derby to unveil an expansion of apprenticeships for British companies, which he said would help prepare the economy for a future recovery.
He said the £140m scheme would help create an extra 35,000 apprenticeship places in 2009 and 2010 and said the government was "doing everything to deal with what is a global financial crisis that is hitting Britain".
But the Conservatives said Mr Brown made apprenticeship announcements "every few months" and had failed to show any "fresh thinking".
Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg said he was concerned firms would be forced to scrap apprenticeship schemes because of the downturn.
Is Gordon Brown visiting your area? Is the company you work for expecting a visit? What do you think about his tour?
Is Gordon Brown visiting your area? Is the company you work for expecting a visit? What do you think about his tour?
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