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| Brown seeking to rally ministers | |
| (41 minutes later) | |
| Gordon Brown is seeking to rally ministers by insisting that Britain can come through the economic downturn as a "stronger" and "fairer" country. | |
| Mr Brown said he would "confront" current challenges as he had done personal difficulties in his own past. | |
| As he seeks to win over doubters about his performance as prime minister he will also outline initiatives on jobs. | |
| It comes as the cabinet meets in Birmingham - the first meeting not in London or at Chequers since 1921. | |
| 'Challenges' | 'Challenges' |
| Mr Brown made his remarks in a document written for delegates ahead the Labour Party conference later this month and is seen as a foretaste of his all-important speech in Manchester. | |
| My own response to the great challenges in my own life has been to confront them Gordon Brown | My own response to the great challenges in my own life has been to confront them Gordon Brown |
| In it, he makes it clear his intention to fight critics of his leadership, referring to challenges he has faced in his life such as the loss of an eye in a rugby injury and the death of his daughter. | |
| "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." | "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." |
| "And there always has been." | "And there always has been." |
| 'Cautious optimism' | 'Cautious optimism' |
| The document acknowledges the UK faces new challenges due to globalisation but says that, with a spirit of "cautious and practical optimism", Britain can emerge stronger from its current economic difficulties. | |
| "I am confident we can come through this difficult economic time and meet these challenges a stronger, more secure and fairer country than ever before," Mr Brown said. | |
| Labour's task was to ensure that all people, not just the wealthy, could benefit from economic opportunities and that people were protected against the "risks that accompany radical change". | |
| But he added: "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." | But he added: "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." |
| I think it is important for government not to spend all of its time in London Ed Miliband, Cabinet Office minister | I think it is important for government not to spend all of its time in London Ed Miliband, Cabinet Office minister |
| Mr Brown said the "new world" pursued by Labour must be based upon "the yearning for fairness". | Mr Brown said the "new world" pursued by Labour must be based upon "the yearning for fairness". |
| "I know there are people who feel that modern Britain has been unfair to them. Some of them are right," he wrote. | "I know there are people who feel that modern Britain has been unfair to them. Some of them are right," he wrote. |
| "But there is nothing that is bad about Britain that cannot be overcome by what is good about Britain, as long as we keep faith with our belief in fairness." | "But there is nothing that is bad about Britain that cannot be overcome by what is good about Britain, as long as we keep faith with our belief in fairness." |
| Initiatives | |
| Tuesday's cabinet meeting is the first not to be held in London or at Chequers since 1921 when David Lloyd George gathered ministers in Inverness to discuss Ireland's renunciation of the British monarchy at a time when he was was holidaying in the Highlands. | Tuesday's cabinet meeting is the first not to be held in London or at Chequers since 1921 when David Lloyd George gathered ministers in Inverness to discuss Ireland's renunciation of the British monarchy at a time when he was was holidaying in the Highlands. |
| Cabinet Office minister Ed Miliband denied suggestions the move was a political stunt, saying it showed the government was focused on listening to people's priorities. | Cabinet Office minister Ed Miliband denied suggestions the move was a political stunt, saying it showed the government was focused on listening to people's priorities. |
| "I don't see it as a cheap gimmick," he told BBC Radio 4's Today Programme. | |
| "I think it is the right thing to do. I think it is important for government not to spend all of its time in London." | "I think it is the right thing to do. I think it is important for government not to spend all of its time in London." |
| Mr Brown and other Cabinet members will announcing a number of initiatives while visiting a number of venues around Birmingham. | Mr Brown and other Cabinet members will announcing a number of initiatives while visiting a number of venues around Birmingham. |
| Business Secretary John Hutton will outline plans for creating up to a million manufacturing jobs in low-carbon technology while Schools Secretary Ed Balls will launch a scheme to help skills and job training for 50,000 low-income families. | Business Secretary John Hutton will outline plans for creating up to a million manufacturing jobs in low-carbon technology while Schools Secretary Ed Balls will launch a scheme to help skills and job training for 50,000 low-income families. |