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Defiant Brown has vision of 'stronger, fairer country'
Paul Waugh, Deputy Political Editor8 Sep 2008
A defiant Gordon Brown moved to stamp his authority on the Government today as he claimed that Britain would emerge a "stronger and fairer country" from the economic slowdown.
Dogged by record low poll ratings and Cabinet disquiet over his leadership, the Prime Minister's latest relaunch saw the entire Cabinet trek with him to the West Midlands.
Downing Street organised the first Cabinet since 1921 to meet outside London to symbolise Mr Brown's intention to be seen meeting ordinary voters.
Held at the Birmingham International Conference Centre, it was preceded by a staged discussion between ministers and the public about issues such as crime and healthcare.
By coincidence, most of the Cabinet found themselves sharing a train carriage with Tory leader David Cameron, who had a BBC camera team following him to Birmingham for a documentary.
"There was surprise on both sides - the carriage was packed with politicians and their aides," said one. Mr Brown travelled up by a separate train to visit the Jaguar plant at Castle Bromwich, where he launched a policy paper on manufacturing industry.
Despite the looming recession, Mr Brown signalled he would put the economy at the heart of his fightback and allies stressed that it would strengthen over the next 18 months in time for a general election.
He also seized on America's decision to nationalise two huge mortgage groups, stressing that it underlined that Britain was not unique in facing the global credit crunch. The £200 billion rescue of Freddie Mac and Fanny Mae is the biggest ever state bail-out and confirms Chancellor Alistair Darling's fear that the world is facing the worst financial squeeze for decades.
Speaking at the meet-the-public session, Mr Brown painted an optimistic view of the economy bouncing back from the global slowdown.
"We can do well indeed, but we have got to work out together how we can make our way in what is a new world of new change that is hitting all of us," he said.
Mr Brown also tried to regain the political initiative by building on the Labour Party silence that greeted calls from Charles Clarke for him to "stand down with honour".
Aware that fellow ministers and MPs are wary of launching a leadership putsch, he effectively issued a "back me or sack me" message.
In a foreword to a Labour policy report to the Cabinet, Mr Brown wrote: "Meeting this challenge will not be easy and it will not happen overnight. There are no easy or quick answers. It requires leadership, squaring up to hard truths, being open with the British people about the choices we face, and making tough decisions on priorities for public spending."
In contrast to Mr Darling's gloomy message, Mr Brown painted a much more optimistic picture. He said: "I do not underestimate these challenges but I believe that Britain's future is bright. We will bring resolution to the task and determination to build, brick by brick, the foundations for success in this new world."
Referring to the personal tragedies he has faced in his life - such as the loss of an eye as a teenager and the death of his daughter Jennifer - Mr Brown made clear he felt he would respond in the same way to the Government's troubles. "My own response to the great challenges in my own life has been to confront them, resolute in the belief that there would always be something that could be done to overcome them," he said.
Mr Brown decided to act after warnings from even his closest allies that he needed to "raise his game". He has been urged to ration his TV appearances amid fears that he pops up too often with brief recorded comments that make him look "stern". One minister-said: "He has been told bluntly what he is doing wrong and he is trying. Appearing less on telly will help."
Although Foreign Secretary David Miliband sought to ease tensions by endorsing Mr Brown in public, his Cabinet ally John Hutton appeared to undermine the Prime Minister.
Asked if he backed Mr Brown to stay as Premier, Mr Hutton said he backed "the work of the Prime Minister". Mr Miliband, however, praised Mr Brown's "vigour and determination".
Reader views (11)
Fairer?
So he'll tax white middle England more and buy votes, I mean "distribute the money" to Labour areas, I mean "deprived areas".
- Frank, Home Counties, England., 09/09/2008 09:04
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Will this be fairer to the middle income taxpayers or fairer to the non tax paying immigrants?
- Casper Slides, Ibiza, Spain, 09/09/2008 01:50
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Brown should have had his cabinet meeting at Traitors Gate.
- Don Jones, crawley sussex, 09/09/2008 00:17
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If the credit crunch is coming to an end, are we going to see lower fuel prices?
Here in Italy, fuel prices rose as quickly as the increase in oil prices, now that oil prices are down, fuel prices have not come down.
- David Nigel Braham, Milan Italy, 08/09/2008 14:57
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It is stronger and fairer .. if you're an MP! You will have had a decent pay rise and a big boost to your pension, paid for by the rest of us - nice one Gordon!
- Paul, London, 08/09/2008 14:40
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A stronger, fairer country? What on earth is he on about? Perhaps throwing more of the taxpayers money at minority schemes?
- David, London, UK, 08/09/2008 14:37
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Gordon Brown's leaving would give the whole U.K. an emotional boost, some optimism. Conversely, the longer he stays on, the more depressed will be Brits' national mood. Unlike the few great politicians who choose their own time to go, Brown will cling on by his fingertips until pushed. He just doesn't see himself as the problem.
- Phil Jones, London UK, 08/09/2008 14:37
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We don't want to be "fair". "Fair" is for losers. We want to be strong.
- Frank, England., 08/09/2008 14:17
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And that's it?
What happened to his relaunch, this man will ruin the country before the next election, GO GORDON GO!
- George, Bexleyheath, 08/09/2008 13:58
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Does that mean he's going to stop taxing middle Britain to a standstill and bring in an inflation measure that actually tracks real inflation and gives us a say on Immigration and Europe. Will he forget about ID Cards, Road Pricing and cut back on the intrusion of privacy. Will he reverse the trend of an ever growing state interference in our lives and greatly reduce the Welfare bill by getting the work shy into jobs. Will he actually get very tough on Gun and Knife with custodial sentences instead of pathetic warnings. Will he actually get our Hospitals cleaned up and free of super bugs whilst at the same time allowing our Headmasters control over their budgets and how they use discipline. Will he stop wasting our money on useless quangos and begin to give us value for money from the Public Sector. Of course he wont but he will make speeches saying he will like he's done for the past eleven years. Wake up Britain.
- Clarky, London, 08/09/2008 12:35
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This won't work. Things have go much worse than before Parliament rose for the summer. Quite frankly-whenever the election is the "give the other lot a go" hymn sheet will prevail-big time!
- William Grierson, Kimpton, UK, 08/09/2008 11:45
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