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Brown outlines 'long term' plans Brown outlines 'long-term' plans
(30 minutes later)
Gordon Brown has sought to regain the political initiative by saying he is taking the "long-term" decisions needed so Britain can meet future challenges.Gordon Brown has sought to regain the political initiative by saying he is taking the "long-term" decisions needed so Britain can meet future challenges.
He told business leaders at the CBI in London he would not "shirk" tough decisions such as expanding Heathrow or building new nuclear power stations.He told business leaders at the CBI in London he would not "shirk" tough decisions such as expanding Heathrow or building new nuclear power stations.
Mr Brown also hinted at a rethink on capital gains tax changes which have been opposed by many business people.Mr Brown also hinted at a rethink on capital gains tax changes which have been opposed by many business people.
And he promised tougher rules on people on benefits accepting training offers.And he promised tougher rules on people on benefits accepting training offers.
Mr Brown's speech, his first to the audience of business leaders since he became prime minister, came after weeks of difficulties.Mr Brown's speech, his first to the audience of business leaders since he became prime minister, came after weeks of difficulties.
He said that he would not take short-term decisions that would put economic stability at risk at a time when a new global order could bring problems such as the credit crisis.
'Yesterday's policies''Yesterday's policies'
He said that he would not take short-term decisions that would put economic stability at risk at a time when a new global order could bring problems such as the credit crisis.
He said Britain had already negotiated several international crises because of its flexibility, and pointed to the decision to keep down public sector pay awards to help control inflation.He said Britain had already negotiated several international crises because of its flexibility, and pointed to the decision to keep down public sector pay awards to help control inflation.
The inactive should, wherever possible, be preparing and training to get back into work Gordon Brown
He said Britain must "leave behind the old policies of yesterday" and make new long-term decisions on planning, energy, the environment and education to become a global leader in the 21st Century.He said Britain must "leave behind the old policies of yesterday" and make new long-term decisions on planning, energy, the environment and education to become a global leader in the 21st Century.
Investment in transport infrastructure must be stepped up, he said, saying every year up to 2017 would see a £20bn investment in transport.Investment in transport infrastructure must be stepped up, he said, saying every year up to 2017 would see a £20bn investment in transport.
The inactive should, wherever possible, be preparing and training to get back into work Gordon Brown
The £16bn Crossrail project would be proceeded with and he said the government would not "shirk" the decision on expanding Heathrow, which he said, Britain's prosperity depended on.The £16bn Crossrail project would be proceeded with and he said the government would not "shirk" the decision on expanding Heathrow, which he said, Britain's prosperity depended on.
'New obligations'
Decisions on key national infrastructure projects will be handed to a new independent body and "streamlined", and on energy security, he said a decision on building nuclear power stations would be made early in the New Year.Decisions on key national infrastructure projects will be handed to a new independent body and "streamlined", and on energy security, he said a decision on building nuclear power stations would be made early in the New Year.
He repeated plans to expand the emissions trading scheme and put London at the centre of a global "carbon market".He repeated plans to expand the emissions trading scheme and put London at the centre of a global "carbon market".
'New obligations' It takes real ministerial talent and determination to engineer the first full-scale banking panic since the Victorian age Chris HuhneLib Dems
And he said Britain needed "the most far-reaching change in our occupational industrial and employment structures for more than a century" - to help the unemployed get the skills needed to train for work by providing "new incentives and new obligations" on welfare recipients.And he said Britain needed "the most far-reaching change in our occupational industrial and employment structures for more than a century" - to help the unemployed get the skills needed to train for work by providing "new incentives and new obligations" on welfare recipients.
"If the best welfare is no longer the benefits you have today but the skills you gain for tomorrow then the inactive should, wherever possible, be preparing and training to get back into work," he said."If the best welfare is no longer the benefits you have today but the skills you gain for tomorrow then the inactive should, wherever possible, be preparing and training to get back into work," he said.
And, following concerns about the decision to scrap taper relief on Capital Gains Tax, Mr Brown said he would continue to "listen and discuss" business about it.And, following concerns about the decision to scrap taper relief on Capital Gains Tax, Mr Brown said he would continue to "listen and discuss" business about it.
But in an address to the conference on Tuesday, Conservative leader David Cameron is expected to attack the government's proposed changes to Capital Gains Tax as "incompetent". 'National disgrace'
On too many issues, this government is just getting it wrong Nick CleggLib Dems At the same conference, the two men vying to be Liberal Democrat leader attacked the government's record.
Nick Clegg told the conference the government was "letting business down" and said there was a "huge skills deficit" and the literacy levels among young people were "a national disgrace" .
Meanwhile Chris Huhne said not a single Treasury team minister had business or markets experience.
"It takes real ministerial talent and determination to engineer the first full-scale banking panic since the Victorian age, and to lose not one, but two discs with bank accounts of seven million families is frankly astonishing," he said.
In an address to the conference on Tuesday, Conservative leader David Cameron is expected to attack the government's proposed changes to Capital Gains Tax as "incompetent".
In his pre-Budget report, Chancellor Alastair Darling outlined plans to replace CGT taper relief with a flat 18% rate.In his pre-Budget report, Chancellor Alastair Darling outlined plans to replace CGT taper relief with a flat 18% rate.
Mr Cameron will focus on the role played by Mr Darling, whom the Tories have also singled out for criticism over Northern Rock and the Child Benefit data loss.Mr Cameron will focus on the role played by Mr Darling, whom the Tories have also singled out for criticism over Northern Rock and the Child Benefit data loss.