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2008 to be decisive year - Brown Brown warns MPs over pay increase
(30 minutes later)
The government faces a "decisive" year which will determine the future of the economy, Prime Minister Gordon Brown has said. Gordon Brown has urged MPs to limit their pay rises to keep them in line with those of public sector workers like nurses and police.
He told BBC One's Andrew Marr show the "important thing for this year" was "we are breaking the back of inflation". The decision on MPs' pay will be made by the House of Commons, but Mr Brown said increases must stay below 2%.
Mr Brown said he would "like to pay... more" to nurses and police but that this was not possible at the moment. He told BBC One's Andrew Marr show they should demonstrate "the same discipline that we ask of other people".
The prime minister also dismissed claims the Tories were "resonating" more with voters than Labour. Mr Brown added that 2008 would be "decisive" for the economy and "breaking the back of inflation".
He said government ministers' pay rises would also be kept below 2%.
'Recommendation'
The Senior Salaries Pay Board has reportedly recommended a 2.8% increase for MPs.
This provoked anger among police, nurses and other public sector workers, who had been told that their own rises must stay below a 2% ceiling this year to keep inflation under control.
Mr Brown said: "Government ministers must have a rate of pay increase that is below 2% - 1.9%. At the same time, my recommendation is that that is what goes for MPs."
I think it's very important that we send a message to nurses, police and all those people in the public sector Gordon Brown
He also said he would "like to pay... more" to nurses and police but that this was not possible at the moment.
'Judged''Judged'
Mr Brown said: "This is a decisive year for the economy. We've got to take the right long-term choices this year.Mr Brown said: "This is a decisive year for the economy. We've got to take the right long-term choices this year.
"I will be judged, as will the chancellor, by whether we take the right choices for the economy.""I will be judged, as will the chancellor, by whether we take the right choices for the economy."
Mr Brown has been criticised by unions for staging public sector pay increases. Mr Brown has been criticised by unions for staging public sector pay increases, effectively bringing them below 2% for the year.
He said he would limit pay rises for ministers to 2% this year and would recommend that MPs voted to do the same for themselves. He said: "We must show exactly the same discipline that we ask of other people.
Mr Brown added: "We must show exactly the same discipline that we ask of other people.
"In fact, the recommendations for significant pay rises will be rejected and I think it's very important that we send a message to nurses, police and all those people in the public sector, it is very important in this year that we break the back of inflation.""In fact, the recommendations for significant pay rises will be rejected and I think it's very important that we send a message to nurses, police and all those people in the public sector, it is very important in this year that we break the back of inflation."
Energy
Mr Brown said there would also be important choices ahead for the future of the NHS and for education.Mr Brown said there would also be important choices ahead for the future of the NHS and for education.
Last week, Justice Secretary Jack Straw said some of the messages put forward by Tory leader David Cameron appeared to be "resonating" with voters.Last week, Justice Secretary Jack Straw said some of the messages put forward by Tory leader David Cameron appeared to be "resonating" with voters.
Asked whether he thought this was the case, Mr Brown said: "No, I do not."Asked whether he thought this was the case, Mr Brown said: "No, I do not."
Earlier, he hinted that the government might approve a new generation of nuclear power plants.Earlier, he hinted that the government might approve a new generation of nuclear power plants.
He told the Observer newspaper that taking decisions on energy sources was "a fundamental precondition of preparing Britain for the new world".He told the Observer newspaper that taking decisions on energy sources was "a fundamental precondition of preparing Britain for the new world".
He used the interview to accuse his opponents of "opportunism", saying he would put long-term interests first.He used the interview to accuse his opponents of "opportunism", saying he would put long-term interests first.