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Tag: 2009

  • HISTORIC PRESS RELEASE : Gordon Brown pledges to tackle youth unemployment [December 2009]

    HISTORIC PRESS RELEASE : Gordon Brown pledges to tackle youth unemployment [December 2009]

    The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 15 December 2009.

    The Prime Minister assured young jobseekers that new measures would bring down unemployment in the coming year during a visit to the Acton Jobcentre Plus in London today.

    Whilst hearing the stories of a number of young people who had been helped by their local Jobcentre, he said:

    “We really don’t want to have a generation of young people who are out of the labour market for too long because it does hurt ambition and it causes a cycle for the next generation.”

    Gordon Brown was joined by Work and Pensions Secretary Yvette Cooper as it was announced that 100,000 new jobs, apprenticeships and training opportunities for under 25s would be created in 2010.

    Yvette Cooper, who today launched the employment white paper “Building Britain’s Recovery, achieving full employment” made the point that youth unemployment has historically continued rising after a recession and should remain a focus for Government:

    “Unemployment is around 400,000 lower than we expected it would be at the time of the Budget as a result of a lot of the extra support and help that has been put in place.

    “But it is still causing a big problem for families right across the country and we still expect unemployment to keep increasing in the New Year.

    “That is why we need to do more to help people, especially young people, get back into work.”

    “Our aim is to work with employers to get youth unemployment falling in the second half of next year.”

    The Government will guarantee employment or training for all under-25s who have been out of work for six months or more.  The white paper also sets out plans to change the benefits system to help motivate older unemployed people, single parents, carers and those starting up new-businesses.

  • HISTORIC PRESS RELEASE : Prime Minister Gordon Brown in Copenhagen for climate talks [December 2009]

    HISTORIC PRESS RELEASE : Prime Minister Gordon Brown in Copenhagen for climate talks [December 2009]

    The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 15 December 2009.

    The Prime Minister is in Copenhagen where he will work towards securing an ambitious agreement that limits global warming to a maximum two degrees.

    Gordon Brown is calling on developed and developing countries at the United Nations Climate Conference to work together to advance shared goals at a “critical moment”.

    After arriving in Copenhagen, the PM went straight into talks with the Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina, and Australian PM Kevin Rudd.

    He said:

    “It is possible that we will not get an agreement and it is also true that there are many issues to be sorted out. But I am determined – with the conversations I have had already today with President Obama, with Chancellor Merkel, with President Sarkozy, and with President Meles of Ethiopia and now I have been talking to the prime minister of Bangladesh, to do everything I can to bring the world together.”

    Shortly before leaving for Copenhagen, the Prime Minister met his Ethiopian counterpart, Prime Minister Meles, who has played an important role in bringing together the views of African countries.

    In a statement released after their meeting, Gordon Brown said Africa’s survival now depends on a climate change deal.

    “Some degree of climate change cannot now be prevented; but we can avert the utter catastrophe that would be the 4, 5 or 6 degree rise implied by a business as usual path of emissions. And we can provide the nations of Africa with the financial support they need to cope with its effects.”

    The PM said he supported proposals presented by Prime Minister Meles, saying they offer a basis for agreement in Copenhagen on the “difficult financing question which lies at the heart of the talks”.

    Prime Minister Meles has proposed:

    • A commitment to predictable and long-term finance, with a clear trajectory from the fast start period of 2010-12 to 2020. I have argued for this to reach 100 billion euros annually by 2020.
    • A commitment to additonality, ensuring that we do not use climate finance to detract from our determination to meet the Millennium Development Goals.
    • And a focus on the use of innovative financing mechanisms, such as a global transactions tax, to raise funds.

    During the UN Climate Conference Mr Brown will also meet leaders from other African nations and the European Union, the UN Secretary General and representatives from hard-hit, small island states.

  • HISTORIC PRESS RELEASE : Prime Minister Gordon Brown determined to reach “legally binding treaty” [December 2009]

    HISTORIC PRESS RELEASE : Prime Minister Gordon Brown determined to reach “legally binding treaty” [December 2009]

    The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 16 December 2009.

    Gordon Brown has spoken of the challenges of his role at the Copenhagen climate change summit after initial talks with leaders including UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, but says that he is determined to help bring the 192 nations involved to a consensus.

    The PM said he hoped there would be an agreement by the end of the week, and a legally-binding treaty within six months.

    Gordon Brown emphasised the importance of the talks both for the UK and for the future of the world’s population, and said that he would use his experience to bring countries together to discuss the various issues involved:

    “This deal matters for Britain. I think if we could get a carbon change, then it is worth about half a million jobs to Britain in the longer run, so it is worth it for jobs.

    “But I also think our children, growing up, going to school every day, I don’t want them to live in a world of floods, of droughts, of extreme weather.

    “It is really important, therefore, for Britain that we get this deal and it is important that I do everything I can in the next few days to make that possible.”

    He also spoke specifically about helping developing countries after backing Ethiopian prime minister Meles Zenawi’s proposals that African nations receive funding to tackle global warming:

    “You have got island states that are evacuating their people in the next few years unless we do something about it.

    “You have got refugees in Africa – climate change refugees for the first time – you have got Bangladesh, which faces floods and the loss of land to sea as a result of what is happening.”

    Britain has pledged £1.5 billion over the next three years to help kick start anti-global warming measures.

    Later today, Gordon  Brown will meet leaders from Bangladesh, Nepal, East Timor, Lesotho, the Maldives and Brazil, as well as attending an EU/African Union meeting.

  • Gordon Brown – 2009 Joint Statement with Irish Taoiseach on Northern Ireland

    Gordon Brown – 2009 Joint Statement with Irish Taoiseach on Northern Ireland

    The statement made by Gordon Brown, the then Prime Minister, on 17 December 2009.

    While work remains to be done, we are both convinced that significant progress is being made on the remaining issues concerning devolution of policing and justice and other issues still outstanding from the St Andrews Agreement.

    It is clear that all the main Northern Ireland parties support the devolution of policing and justice and want to see this happen. The Governments believe that, while there remain issues to be resolved, the parties have made substantial progress over recent months towards the transfer of policing and justice powers.

    The First and deputy First Ministers set out in November last year the steps that they both agreed needed to be taken to finalise the process. Those steps are near to completion.

    The legislation to create the model for the new Justice Department was agreed at Westminster in March. The legislation to create the new Justice Department has completed its passage through the Assembly. The process to identify the Justice Minister is now underway.

    The Prime Minister agreed a generous financial settlement in September that will ensure that a devolved Justice Department will have the resources it needs to manage particular financial pressures around, for example, hearing loss claims without detriment to front line policing and justice services. The financial package will only be available if devolution is completed in the coming months.

    Maintaining this progress and the early completion of devolution are important to sustaining public confidence across the whole community and to further enhancing Northern Ireland’s international reputation.

    This is both realistic and achievable.

    The only steps that remain in the process agreed by the First and deputy First Ministers are for the Northern Ireland parties, once the outstanding issues are resolved, to complete the process of public consultation and an Assembly vote seeking the transfer of powers.

    Once final agreement is reached by the parties, approval by Westminster of the necessary transfer orders can be achieved within a matter of weeks following a request from the Assembly. The British Government stands ready to bring forward these orders in the New Year.

    We have discussed the limited number of outstanding issues with the parties. We believe that there are no differences incapable of resolution and are optimistic the parties can find early agreement.

    We will stay in close touch with the parties as they continue discussions over the coming days.

    We believe that early completion of devolution is important. We have, therefore, asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and the Minister for Foreign Affairs to meet at the beginning of January to review progress towards the necessary cross community vote in the Assembly.

    While these matters can best be resolved by the Parties themselves, we remain available to help as required.

  • HISTORIC PRESS RELEASE : Copenhagen climate negotiations continue [December 2009]

    HISTORIC PRESS RELEASE : Copenhagen climate negotiations continue [December 2009]

    The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 18 December 2009.

    The Prime Minister said the conditions that would make a climate financing agreement possible were now in place, following a long day of discussions in Copenhagen.

    Negotiations continued early into the morning as Gordon Brown and other leaders worked to secure a deal that would limit global temperature rises to two degrees.

    The United Nations Climate Conference in Copenhagen continues today, with US President Barack Obama joining the discussions.

    Yesterday, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton announced that the United States would play its part in a $100 billion dollar-a-year climate financing agreement for developing countries, by 2020.

    The PM said:

    “We have now got to the position where it is possible that we will get agreement tomorrow on the $10 billion plan to 2012 and the $100 billion, public and private, including the carbon market and international finance.

    “We have also made progress in other areas and I believe that the conditions for an agreement are now there.”

  • HISTORIC PRESS RELEASE : Gordon Brown to push for legally binding treaty on climate [December 2009]

    HISTORIC PRESS RELEASE : Gordon Brown to push for legally binding treaty on climate [December 2009]

    The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 19 December 2009.

    The Prime Minister has pledged to lead an international campaign to turn the agreements established at the Copenhagen summit on climate change into a legally binding treaty.

    Speaking at the conclusion of the summit in Denmark late on Friday night, the PM said that nations had made progress and taken a “vital first step” but that more work was needed.

    Mr Brown said that the international community had set a target to limit rises in global temperatures by 2050 to two degrees centigrade and for every nation to publish emissions plans to be held up for scrutiny by their peers.

    The PM said:

    “This is the first step we are taking towards a green and low carbon future for the world, steps we are taking together. First steps are difficult, but they are also necessary.

    “Having taken that first step I hope that we can move quickly to the next step which is to get a legally binding treaty.”

    US President Barack Obama described an agreement with several nations, including China and Brazil, as “meaningful and unprecedented” but acknowledged that there was “much further to go” in the fight against global warming.

    French President Nicolas Sarkozy said that all nations had signed up to a plan to provide developing nations with up to $100 billion per year in climate change-related aid by 2020 and that follow up meetings to Copenhagen would be held in the German city of Bonn in six months time.

  • Gordon Brown – 2009 Message to NHS Staff

    Gordon Brown – 2009 Message to NHS Staff

    The message sent by Gordon Brown, the then Prime Minister, on 21 December 2009.

    2009 has been a tough year for us all, but your dedication and commitment has seen our cherished National Health Service rise to the challenge – and so I want to thank you for your enormous contribution to the country this year.

    Public satisfaction with the NHS is at an all time high and recently it was rated as one of the world’s best health care systems. We saw over the summer just how deeply the public love it and just how much we all appreciate your devotion to saving lives, relieving pain, preventing sickness, curing illness, caring for the old and comforting all those who have fallen in the struggle of life. As we enter the world and as we leave it, and at all those moments of trauma and transition in between, we need the workers of the NHS – and you are there.

    You make the difference between fear and hope, anxiety and security, between giving in and going on, and so often the difference between life and death. It is only thanks to you that this Government has been able to offer not a gamble but a guarantee; a legal right that anyone with suspected cancer will see a specialist within two weeks, and a future programme to introduce a new right to cancer diagnostic tests, with results, within one week. I know that this country can lead the way in fulfilling the dream of a generation; beating cancer. We can only do it because the NHS enables us to pool the resources of each of us to guarantee excellent care for all of us.

    I firmly believe that we measure a society best not by the size of its wealth but by the width of its compassion, the breadth of its care and the depths of its generosity. Ours is a country where all of these qualities are best realised in one iconic national achievement – a National Health Service based on need and not on ability to pay, a service for the whole nation that is the finest insurance policy in the world.

    As you face another Christmas sacrificing time with loved ones to serve others, let me also pay tribute to the incredibly long hours you have put in this year to confront the Swine Flu epidemic. The response of the NHS has been extraordinary and the whole country is extremely grateful.

    However deep or difficult the financial implications of the recession, my pledge to you is that we will always put the front-line first. The staff of the NHS are the backbone of our wonderful country, and we will not let you down.

  • Gordon Brown – 2009 Podcast on Copenhagen Climate Change Summit

    Gordon Brown – 2009 Podcast on Copenhagen Climate Change Summit

    The text of the podcast made by Gordon Brown, the then Prime Minister, on 21 December 2009.

    This weekend the world came together in the first step towards a new alliance to overcome the enormous challenges of climate change.

    But, as you saw, the talks in Copenhagen were not easy. And, as they reached conclusion, I did fear the process would collapse and we would have no deal at all.

    Yet, through strength of common purpose, we were able finally to break the deadlock. In a breakthrough never seen on this scale before – secure agreement from the international community.

    But this cannot be the end – in fact, it is only the beginning and we must go further still.

    To do that, we must learn lessons from Copenhagen and the tough negotiations that took place.

    Never again should we face the deadlock that threatened to pull down those talks. Never again should we let a global deal to move towards a greener future be held to ransom by only a handful of countries.

    I believe that in 2010 we will need to look at reforming our international institutions to meet the common challenges we face as a global community.

    And we’ll need to harness the best of low carbon technology for the world to continue to grow whilst keeping to our pledge made this weekend to limit the increase in global temperatures to two degrees celsius.

    I am convinced that Britain’s long term prosperity lies in leading the necessary transformation to a low carbon, greener future.

    We must become a global leader not just in financing greener technologies but in the development and manufacture of wind, tidal, nuclear and other low-carbon energy.

    And as we look towards a new decade, be assured that your government will play its part in supporting the ambitions of our entrepreneurs and leading businesses and the expertise of our scientists and engineers in making this transformation.

    For it is not just at international summits that Britain must lead the fight to tackle climate change – it’s here at home too.

    Working to protect the only planet we have is about our moral duty to our children and grandchildren.
    Like every parent, I understand we all want to see our children get on and do well in life and I believe that each generation should have greater opportunities and possibilities than the last.

    And I believe in making Britain more ambitious and in helping you to fulfil your aspirations for a better quality of life and a better standard of living.

    A fairer Britain is the driving force behind everything we do. Government is there to help people get on, not just get by.

    That’s why we have helped ensure that the past year has not been as bleak for the vast majority of you as past recessions.

    Last week we had encouraging news that as we approach Christmas, there are more people in jobs, and also that more young people are being helped through these challenging times.

    If the experience of the last recession had been repeated, unemployment would have been so much higher; repossessions twice as bad and company insolvencies two and a half times worse.

    And it’s not just the economic measures which are giving me cause for optimism.

    Crime has continued to decline – bucking the trend of every other recession when it has soared.

    Of course, there are no grounds for complacency. Challenging months and tough decisions lie ahead and we’re determined to do more.

    Jobs, apprenticeships, training and work experience will help kick start the careers of thousands of young people, giving them the confidence and self-esteem that comes with playing an active role in society.

    We’ve also guaranteed that every person on unemployment benefits for six months – whatever their age – will be £40 a week better off when moving into work.

    So our message is that we are a country of aspiration and opportunity and we as a government will support the hard-working majority and that is a government of optimism.

    We have faith in our young people, in our shared futures and in a greener, fairer Britain for all that I’ve just talked about.

    Can I take this opportunity to wish you and your family a very happy Christmas.

  • HISTORIC PRESS RELEASE : A greener future for Britain – Gordon Brown [December 2009]

    HISTORIC PRESS RELEASE : A greener future for Britain – Gordon Brown [December 2009]

    The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 22 December 2009.

    Gordon Brown has spoken of a “low carbon, greener future” for Britain in his latest podcast following the “tough negotiations” of the Copenhagen climate change summit.

    The PM talked of the challenges of the summit and stressed that Copenhagen should mark the beginning, not the end, of efforts to keep climate change at the top of the political agenda.

    The Prime Minister also looked to the opportunities that the fight against climate change could present for Britain’s economy:

    “I am convinced that Britain’s long term prosperity lies in leading the necessary transformation to a low carbon, greener future.

    “We must become a global leader not just in financing greener technologies but in the development and manufacture of wind, tidal, nuclear and other low-carbon energy.”

    He also urged the global community to “learn lessons” from the previous week’s conference and called for the creation of a central body to chair future talks:

    “I believe that in 2010 we will need to look at reforming our international institutions to meet the common challenges we face as a global community.”

    In his penultimate podcast of 2009, the Prime Minister expressed his optimism about the coming year, with decreasing crime rates and the recent announcement of new opportunities for job seekers.

  • HISTORIC PRESS RELEASE : Statement on Briton’s execution in China – Akmal Shaikh [December 2009]

    HISTORIC PRESS RELEASE : Statement on Briton’s execution in China – Akmal Shaikh [December 2009]

    The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 29 December 2009.

    The Prime Minister has released a statement condemning the decision to execute Akmal Shaikh, 53, from Kentish Town, north London.

    Mr Shaikh was convicted of smuggling heroin into China in 2007 and was executed in Urumqi, north west China, in the early hours of 29 December 2009.

    Prime Minister

    I condemn the execution of Akmal Shaikh in the strongest terms, and am appalled and disappointed that our persistent requests for clemency have not been granted. I am particularly concerned that no mental health assessment was undertaken.

    At this time our thoughts are with Mr Shaikh’s family and friends and I send them our sincere condolences.