PM urges Britons to stay optimistic

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Despite forecasts that the UK will experience the worst downturn out of the major developed nations, the Prime Minister urged against "talking the country down".

But he also gave a stark warning that failure at April's G20 summit in London could have disastrous consequences.

The comments came in an interview with the Daily Telegraph in Davos, where Mr Brown is attending the world economic forum.

"I am absolutely confident about Britain's future. I have utter confidence in our ability to come through this," he said.

"I have utter confidence not only in the British people's determination to come through this, but that people will work together to make sure Britain emerges from this."

He added: "The British spirit is to see a problem, identify it, and get on with solving it. Once a problem hits us we are determined and resolute and we are adamant that we are going to deal with that problem."

The PM again drew comparisons between the current crisis and the Great Depression. World leaders gathered in London in 1933 to consider how to tackle problems, but could not strike a deal.

Mr Brown said: "People came to London in an attempt to get agreement, partly on trade, partly on other aspects of the economy. It failed. And it was partly as a result of that failure that the rest of the Thirties was blighted by protectionism."

Mr Brown will deliver closing remarks to the forum, before flying back to the UK - where he is expected to meet Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao.