Brown wants UK to be beacon of hope

Dec 19 2008

Gordon Brown called for Britain to be a "beacon of hope" amid the turmoil of the global economic downturn.

In his final Downing Street press conference of 2008, the Prime Minister said he would be setting out ambitious plans in the New Year so that Britain is ready when the economy picks up again.

"These are uncertain and difficult times but Britain can and must be a beacon of hope and opportunity for the future," he said.

"The scale of the challenges that we face is matched by the strength of my optimism that Britain can rise to meet these challenges.

"With our fighting spirit and our can-do attitude, I am confident that we can meet all the challenges ahead."

Mr Brown said the Government would be bringing forward measures for "smart investment" in "green" jobs and the digital economy.

There would also be investment in transport, with a decision on a third runway at Heathrow in the New Year, and on alternatives to oil, including nuclear power.

There would be measures too on retraining, social mobility, and reform of the banking system.

"An economic slowdown must not be an excuse to slow down the pace of investment and reform to strengthen our country for the future," he said.

"The countries that invest through the downturn will be the countries that emerge stronger in the future. There is no credible plan for getting out of this downturn that is not also a plan for building a better long-term British economy."