Brown unveils legislative proposals

Mr Brown said his "immediate priority" was to help families deal with the current economic turbulence and his "passion" was to give every Briton the opportunity to fulfil their potential, and urged voters to judge him on those tests.

He set out his plans for the next session of Parliament in a draft Queen's Speech containing 18 bills which he said would create a "fairer, more prosperous" Britain.

The wide-ranging programme included measures to help first-time buyers onto the property ladder through shared ownership schemes; protect depositors when banks fail; extend access to apprenticeships, training and flexible working; and encourage poorer people to save.

Speaking during a visit to south London shortly after unveiling his programme to the House of Commons, Mr Brown acknowledged that voters were anxious about their economic prospects and said the current uncertainties required a "clear and decisive" direction from the Government.

"I ask, and indeed expect, to be judged by this test: our stewardship of the British economy and building a lasting prosperity by releasing untapped potential," said Mr Brown.

"And with this lasting prosperity we can pass a second and wider test: building a fairer Britain where nobody who makes the effort is left out or loses out and where all can enjoy the rising opportunities of a new world.

"That opportunity-rich Britain is both my passion and my purpose. And to advance it is my promise."

The Prime Minister won cheers from Labour MPs and support from unions as he announced plans to extend employment protections to agency workers, grant all employees the right to request time off for training and extend flexible working to parents of older children.

But he set the scene for a possible future clash with backbenchers as he confirmed plans to require all new and existing incapacity benefit claimants to undergo medical checks to see if they are fit to return to work.