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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
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| Brown's cabinet meets in Cardiff | Brown's cabinet meets in Cardiff |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Prime Minster Gordon Brown and his top team of ministers have travelled to Cardiff for the first meeting of a British cabinet in Wales. | Prime Minster Gordon Brown and his top team of ministers have travelled to Cardiff for the first meeting of a British cabinet in Wales. |
| The meeting comes as the Transport Secretary Lord Adonis confirmed a £1bn plan to electrify the rail line between south Wales and London. | The meeting comes as the Transport Secretary Lord Adonis confirmed a £1bn plan to electrify the rail line between south Wales and London. |
| Speaking on BBC Radio Wales, the prime minister said the rail electrification would make the service "world class". | |
| He said it would also be a greener and more reliable rail link. | |
| "It just shows that railways are back and that the investment in railways will pay off for the future," Mr Brown said. | |
| As well as the cabinet meeting, ministers are also taking part in a series of meetings and events throughout south Wales. | |
| But opposition parties called the visit "shallow" and "stage managed". | But opposition parties called the visit "shallow" and "stage managed". |
| Lord Adonis told the BBC the massive railway investment involved would be worth it. He said: "With the electric trains you get a quieter, cleaner, more reliable and much cheaper train which benefits passengers and it also benefits the taxpayers because it's much cheaper to keep an electric railway going. | |
| He also said the investment would pay for itself over a 40-year period and that there would be no impact on fares. | He also said the investment would pay for itself over a 40-year period and that there would be no impact on fares. |
| I am sure that my colleagues will leave Wales today eager to spread the word about what a dynamic and innovative place Wales is Welsh Secretary Peter Hain | |
| Mr Brown is seeking to regain the political initiative after what he has described as a "difficult year". | Mr Brown is seeking to regain the political initiative after what he has described as a "difficult year". |
| He hopes action on the economy, public services and the environment will contrast with Conservative policies. | He hopes action on the economy, public services and the environment will contrast with Conservative policies. |
| It is the sixth time Mr Brown's cabinet has met outside London, since it began a tour of locations around the UK last September with a visit to Birmingham. | It is the sixth time Mr Brown's cabinet has met outside London, since it began a tour of locations around the UK last September with a visit to Birmingham. |
| Trips to Leeds, Liverpool, Southampton and Glasgow followed, before this visit to the Welsh capital. | Trips to Leeds, Liverpool, Southampton and Glasgow followed, before this visit to the Welsh capital. |
| Welsh Secretary Peter Hain said: "The Wales of the 21st Century has hi-tech industry, world class centres of innovation and a diverse talented workforce that is split almost 50-50 men and women. | Welsh Secretary Peter Hain said: "The Wales of the 21st Century has hi-tech industry, world class centres of innovation and a diverse talented workforce that is split almost 50-50 men and women. |
| 'Shallow attempt' | 'Shallow attempt' |
| "Today will be a fantastic opportunity to showcase what Wales has to offer to the rest of the UK and the world. | "Today will be a fantastic opportunity to showcase what Wales has to offer to the rest of the UK and the world. |
| "This is the first time that the cabinet has met in Wales. I am sure that my colleagues will leave Wales today eager to spread the word about what a dynamic and innovative place Wales is." | "This is the first time that the cabinet has met in Wales. I am sure that my colleagues will leave Wales today eager to spread the word about what a dynamic and innovative place Wales is." |
| Shadow Welsh Secretary Cheryl Gillan said: "The prime minister has barely visited Wales since he took office - and since Conservatives beat Labour in Wales at last month's European elections we're surprised he wants to come at all," she said. | Shadow Welsh Secretary Cheryl Gillan said: "The prime minister has barely visited Wales since he took office - and since Conservatives beat Labour in Wales at last month's European elections we're surprised he wants to come at all," she said. |
| "This is a shallow attempt to pretend that Wales matters to him. | "This is a shallow attempt to pretend that Wales matters to him. |
| "If Gordon Brown thinks (the) visit will persuade people to forget that Labour is to blame for the difficulties facing Wales today then he will be very disappointed." | "If Gordon Brown thinks (the) visit will persuade people to forget that Labour is to blame for the difficulties facing Wales today then he will be very disappointed." |
| Welsh Liberal Democrat leader Kirsty Williams described the event as stage managed and said it would not "replace real engagement with Welsh communities and meaningful reform of our damaged democracy". | Welsh Liberal Democrat leader Kirsty Williams described the event as stage managed and said it would not "replace real engagement with Welsh communities and meaningful reform of our damaged democracy". |