Brown rallies Cabinet in Birmingham

Sep 8 2008

Prime Minister Gordon Brown is to tell Cabinet ministers he is determined to provide leadership by "squaring up to hard truths, being open with the British people about the choices we face, and making tough decisions".

In a document being circulated as the Cabinet meets outside London for the first time in almost a century, he will acknowledge that the UK faces new economic, social and technological challenges due to ever-accelerating globalisation.

But he will tell them he is confident it can come through the current period of economic difficulty as a "stronger, more secure and fairer country", adding: "I believe that Britain's future is bright."

In what is thought to be a foretaste of his all-important speech to Labour's annual conference later this month, the PM will urge ministers meeting in Birmingham to forge "a new deal for this new world" based on the fundamental principle of fairness.

And he will say that his own response to the great challenges in his own life has always been "to confront them, resolute in the belief that there would always be something that could be done to overcome them."

Mr Brown's comments come in the foreword of a document to be presented to delegates at Labour's conference in Manchester.

In it, he writes that the unprecedented speed of economic, social and technological change has sparked problems of job insecurity, global warming, terrorism and strains on community and family life, but will also bring "new prosperity and opportunities" over the next 25 years.

"Our task, as a party, as a government, now is to ensure that our country and all of our people make the most of these opportunities and are protected against the risks that accompany radical change," he added.

"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."

The only previous Cabinet outside London was held at Inverness Town Hall in 1921, called to discuss Ireland's renunciation of the British monarchy at a time when PM David Lloyd George was holidaying in the Highlands.