Brown urges world bodies shake-up

Mr Brown said the UN Security Council should be expanded, with places for nations such as India, the International Monetary Fund should have a new "early warning" role to head off crises such as Northern Rock and the World Bank should focus more on boosting clean energy and the environment.

Mr Brown, speaking to business leaders in the Indian capital New Delhi on the final day of his visit, said: "In this new era the only certainty is that there continues to be uncertainty and the only guarantee, that there are no guarantees."

He went on: "To succeed now, the post-war rules of the game and the post-war international institutions must be radically reformed to fit our world of globalisation.

"We can and must do more to make our global institutions more representative and I support India's bid for a permanent place, with others, on an expanded UN Security Council.

"And I support changes to the IMF, World Bank and the G8 that reflect the rise of India and Asia."

On changes to the World Bank, Mr Brown said: "We must consider reform of our international rules and institutions to reflect the urgency of tackling global poverty and climate change."

The Prime Minister said that should involve a multi-billion pound global climate change fund to finance low-carbon investment.

Mr Brown said the IMF should now: "Focus on surveillance of the global economic and financial system and thus prevent crises not just resolve them."

He also used his speech to call for greater international cooperation in the fight against terrorism, saying: "To ensure that there is no hiding place for terrorists I propose all countries strengthen networks of global law enforcement authorities, intelligence agents, police and financial regulators."