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| PM's Welsh economy 'health check' | PM's Welsh economy 'health check' |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Prime Minister Gordon Brown has begun his visit to south Wales as part of his three-day regional tour of the UK. | Prime Minister Gordon Brown has begun his visit to south Wales as part of his three-day regional tour of the UK. |
| He began at Contour Aircraft Systems in Llantarnam Industrial Estate, near Llantarnum, Cwmbran, where he toured the factory and workshop and met staff. | He began at Contour Aircraft Systems in Llantarnam Industrial Estate, near Llantarnum, Cwmbran, where he toured the factory and workshop and met staff. |
| Mr Brown is due in Cardiff later for the final visit of the regional tour. | Mr Brown is due in Cardiff later for the final visit of the regional tour. |
| He has been on a series of visits to see the impact of the economic downturn, and says he wants to hear what people say and explain his plans. | He has been on a series of visits to see the impact of the economic downturn, and says he wants to hear what people say and explain his plans. |
| During his tour Mr Brown has travelled mainly by train and stayed in local hotels, holding meetings during the day and evening. When a prime minister does get to an area and gets to talk to people, he does get that sense of what attitudes are Lord Kinnock, former Labour leader | During his tour Mr Brown has travelled mainly by train and stayed in local hotels, holding meetings during the day and evening. When a prime minister does get to an area and gets to talk to people, he does get that sense of what attitudes are Lord Kinnock, former Labour leader |
| By contrast, his predecessor Tony Blair flew to areas of the UK for day trips, returning to Downing Street each night. | By contrast, his predecessor Tony Blair flew to areas of the UK for day trips, returning to Downing Street each night. |
| Former Labour leader Neil Kinnock, who is from south Wales, said the visit would "enrich" Mr Brown's understanding of what is going on in the area. | Former Labour leader Neil Kinnock, who is from south Wales, said the visit would "enrich" Mr Brown's understanding of what is going on in the area. |
| "When a prime minister does get to an area and gets to talk to people, he does get that sense of what attitudes are in an area," Lord Kinnock told BBC Radio Wales. | "When a prime minister does get to an area and gets to talk to people, he does get that sense of what attitudes are in an area," Lord Kinnock told BBC Radio Wales. |
| "It's still better than sitting in that ivory tower in Downing Street." | "It's still better than sitting in that ivory tower in Downing Street." |
| Plaid Cymru finance spokesperson Chris Franks said: "I hope Brown has come to apologise for the economic problems he has created in Wales. | Plaid Cymru finance spokesperson Chris Franks said: "I hope Brown has come to apologise for the economic problems he has created in Wales. |
| "New Labour and the Tories are joint architects of the deregulation that led to the credit crunch and economic hardship for many." | "New Labour and the Tories are joint architects of the deregulation that led to the credit crunch and economic hardship for many." |
| Conservative shadow Welsh secretary Cheryl Gillan said: "The prime minister's visit brings no comfort to the thousands of workers who have lost their jobs in Wales over recent months and the thousands more whose jobs are at risk in the months to come. | Conservative shadow Welsh secretary Cheryl Gillan said: "The prime minister's visit brings no comfort to the thousands of workers who have lost their jobs in Wales over recent months and the thousands more whose jobs are at risk in the months to come. |
| "If he thinks he will manage to persuade people he's the man to solve this economic crisis then I suspect he will be very disappointed." | "If he thinks he will manage to persuade people he's the man to solve this economic crisis then I suspect he will be very disappointed." |
| Jenny Randerson, for the Liberal Democrats, said: "Another day goes by and we've heard that more and more people are losing their jobs in Wales. | |
| "It seems that Gordon Brown is coming here to see the mess he's created." | "It seems that Gordon Brown is coming here to see the mess he's created." |