UKPOL.CO.UK

Tag: Gordon Brown

  • Gordon Brown – 2009 Webchat on Afghanistan

    Gordon Brown – 2009 Webchat on Afghanistan

    The text of the webchat with Gordon Brown on Afghanistan on 14 December 2009.

    The Prime Minister took part in a live webchat this morning – his first on the Number 10 website – on the issue of building a stable Afghanistan.

    The PM’s webchat follows his weekend visit to Afghanistan where he met British forces and held talks with President Karzai.

    Read the transcript:

    Moderator says: Good morning. Welcome to the webchat. The Prime Minister will be joining us very shortly.

    Sue Pritchard: The history of the region tells us that external interventions do not create, let alone sustain, stability, peace or prosperity. What’s different this time?

    Gordon replies: Hello, Gordon Brown here.  I returned in the early hours of this morning from visiting British troops in Afghanistan.  As we approach Christmas I wanted to thank them for their courageous service and to tell them that the people back home were in awe of their acheivements.

    To answer your question Sue, we know that the Taleban do not have the support of the Afghan people.  And above all we know that a stable Afghanistan means a safer Britain.  So the question is whether we can help the Afghan people build a stable, democratic and prosperous future – so it is right to train their forces, police and security services so they can take control of the security of their country for themselves.

    stacey hemming: I know there is a lot of negative press and views regarding Afghan, with pressure to be pulled out. My husband is currently serving over there and I just want to say that I’m proud and don’t want them to be pulled out until the job is finished. Like many, we don’t want the losses we have suffered to be for nothing. I support you, I support our forces. It would be nice if you would stand tall and tell everyone that your not backing down and we will finish the job and do our fallen soldiers proud.

    Gordon replies: Stacey, I don’t know if I have met your husband but he is clearly a brave and dedicated man who is making an important contribution to this important mission.  We have a job to do to destroy the attempt by Al Qaeda to attack the streets of Britain and to prevent the Taleban from offering them safehaven in Afghanistan.  We have just stepped up the number of forces dedicated to this job and are now training the Afghan forces so they can take on the role of maintaining the security.  We will never forget the sacrifice of those who have given their lives.

    hanif rehman: Plz say a thank you to the troops. Secondly, has the PM thought of spending more on infrastructure i.e.schools and roads rather than sending more troops. Or does he feel constrained by level of corruption in Afg?

    Gordon replies: Hanif

    We’re doing both.  Our military and our civilian stabilisation advisors are working very closely together.  There are double the amount of health services in Helmand than 3 years ago and more than a hundred schools open in Helmand, over half in the last year.

    On corruption, President Karzai has given me and the international community assurances that he will work to tackle corruption and at the London Conference on Jan 28th next year we will be asking him for updates on progress.  Of course it is about delivery not just words and we will be vigilant in seeking action.

    khasail: How did you come to the decision of sending more troops into afghanistan in the middle of a recesion?

    Gordon replies: Some of you have asked similar questions so to answer, the terrorist threat to the UK is real.  We cannot allow the Taleban to again give space to Al Qaeda to operate in Afghanistan.  This is not a conflict of choice, it is about necessity.  And all 43 nations of the coalition agree.  Our additional 500 troops will be complemented by more than 35000 from the US and other countries.  It is vital that our troops have the resources to do the job at hand.

    Ben Blankley: Can there ever be a military solution that will stop the 1 in 4 Afghan children dying before their fifth birthday?

    Gordon replies: Already the child mortality rate has been cut.  The estimate is that now 100,000 children under 5 who would have otherwise died are now kept alive by better healthcare.  This is because of British and other international countries paying for programmes to immunise children, to pay nurses, midwives and doctors and to make healthcare sustainable.

    Glen Oglaza Sky News: Since Afghanistan is and always has been “tribal”, training Afghan army and police recruits who are mostly Tajik will not hold sway with the majority Pushtuns so How can the NATO effort stop the country simply sliding back into the old ways of rival warlords and the re-emergence of the Taliban? And was President Obama wrong to give an exit date – and a date for the Taliban to take back control?

    Gordon replies: I met Afghan troops being trained by British troops in Helmand yesterday.  They came from every region of Afghanistan and showed it is possible to build a national army that is both professional and united.  They are ready to take on the Taleban and the Afghan army will rise in number to 135,000 over the next year.  And I discussed this very issue with the President of Afghanistan and the defence minister who are committed to this strategy.

    The issue is the Afghan army, security forces and police gradually taking control and it is at that point that our forces can start to come home.

    Sarah Taylor: In reply to Hanif Rehman, I am the wife of a Royal Engineer and I can assure you that he is kept very busy in Afghanistan by helping the infrastructure. Recently completing an access road which will allow local people to travel more freely to and from school.

    Gordon replies: Thank you for that Sarah.  This is vital work and I’m very proud that your husband has made such a big contribution to the future of Aghanistan.

    Jim Aldus: Until quite recently, your government has been saying that the troops have had all the equipment they need or have asked for to do the job in Afghanistan. If that’s the case, why is more specialised equipment being sent to deal with roadside IEDs that have been used by the Taliban since before the invasion?

    Gordon replies: Jim

    We are always adjusting to the threat that is posed to our forces by getting the best equipment to deal with it.  Over the last year the Taleban have increasingly used explosive devices rather than fight the British army face to face where they know they would lose, and the types of devices are always changing.  So to deal with that threat we have increased our specialist forces, our electronic surveillance, our intelligence and our hand held detectors and we have dismantled around 1500 IEDs in the recent months.  It is right we respond to the threat with the best equipment.

    pedro: If the russians couldnt succeed in many years in afganistan, what makes you think that uk efforts will?

    Gordon replies: The Russians didn’t have the popular support of the people for what they were trying to do  – they were working against, not with or for the Afghan people.  Our strategy is to partner the Afghan forces and we are clear that this is not an army of occupation.

    Tom W: We can’t pull out until the job is finished, but this could result in us being in Afghanistan for decades to come, because the goal is not very clear-cut. How will you asses when the job is done?

    Gordon replies: When Afghanistan is able to run its own affairs free of the Taleban and Al Qaeda.

    Nigel F: Will you continue sending personal letters to relatives of the fallen, despite the (unfair) criticism you received?

    Gordon replies: Nigel.

    Yes I will.  And I understand the feelings who have lost loved ones and it is their concerns that are uppermost in my thoughts.

    Thomas Oliver Bromfield: As a ex serviceman,can you reassure me that all the help possible will be provided to the wounded serviceman?

    Gordon replies: Thomas, thank you for your question.  Yes, I saw the medical facilities at Camp Bastion yesterday.  The staff and the equipment are the best in the world.  I am also determined that all the care we can provide at Selly Oak and in other hospitals is the best.  I recognise the enormous sacrifice people make on behalf of our country and thank them all.

    Asli Aral: What will be the main aim/purpose of the London Afghanistan conference on Jan. 28th?

    Gordon replies: Asli

    To get more support for our Afghanistan strategy to train, mentor and partner the Afghan secuirty forces and to help the economy and people of Afghanistan to get a bigger stake in their own future.  President Karzai will bring forward his plan for the future of Afghanistan for discussion at the conference.

    tony: If all 43 nations of the coalition agree about the necessity of this war is it not time that British service personal were replaced by the service personel of another country in Helmand Province and let them have a spell of death and destruction?

    Gordon replies: Our NATO and coalition allies are offering more troops, including the US who are offering 30,000 more and around 5000 from the non-US allies.

    English: Why don’t “we” start buying the Opium? There are several reasons why they should. It would establish peaceful trade with farmers (who can grow little else), it starves the Taliban of recruits and funds, it keeps heroin off our streets, it solves the world shortage in opium. The current “strategy” of burning farmers crops only strengthens the Taliban by supplying angry ex farmers.

    Gordon replies: The UN and most people looking at this oppose this policy as they believe farmers would simply multiply the amount of opium they produce.

    Harry: When the troops leave Afghanistan, what legacy would you ideally like to leave on the Afghani people and how reachable do you think this is? Also, in terms of percentage, what population of the Afghani people do you believe are truly behind what our troops are doing in Afghanistan?

    Gordon replies: A stable Afghanistan in which the army and police can deal with security and terrorism and where the people have a stake in their future.

    Sam Ornbo: How close are we to finding Osama Bin Laden?

    Gordon replies: Sam

    In the last year 8 of the leading figures in Al Qaeda have been killed.  Al Qaeda is being seriously disrupted by the actions in Afghanistan and in Pakistan.  At present we have no specific knowledge about Osama Bin Laden but we continue to hunt him down.

    James Kirkup – Daily Telegraph: Do you have any concerns about public support for the deployment? There’s clearly very strong sympathy for Armed Forces personnel, but does it worry you that a significant proportion of the electorate appear to want a quick or even immediate withdrawal? And could signs of public unease over the mission actually embolden the Taliban and persuade them that they can break Britain’s resolve to stay?

    Gordon replies: Morale in Afghanistan amongst our troops I found to be very high indeed.  They know they are doing an important job to defeat the Taleban to help security in the UK.  I believe that when people at home see why we are there – to defeat terrorism and see our strategy to train and partner Afghan forces so we can hand over security control, they understand that we have no intention of being an army of occupation, that the mission is vital and that our forces will stay until the job is done.  The soldiers I met are very proud to be playing their part.

    Mike Naylor: When will a Government Minister meet the bodies of brave service persomnnel when they are re-patriated?

    Gordon replies: Everything Ministers do is on the advice of our service chiefs and in accordance with the wishes of the families who have lost loved ones. I try to write to every family that has suffered these tragic losses. We do indeed owe everyone who has given their life for our country and their families our thanks and gratitude. Our forces are the best in the world.

    Thank you to everyone for taking the time to send in your questions.  I am sorry I’m unable to answer more but I hope you have found it useful.

    Gordon.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • Gordon Brown – 2009 New Year’s Message for 2010

    Gordon Brown – 2009 New Year’s Message for 2010

    The message made by Gordon Brown, the then Prime Minister, on 30 December 2009.

    In his New Year message the Prime Minister has promised to continue to protect and improve Britain as it enters a new decade.

    The Government’s priorities will be to secure economic recovery, reform public services, clean up politics and continue fighting the threat of terrorism, Gordon Brown said in a podcast released today.

    The PM added that the UK would continue to step up efforts to disrupt terrorists planning to mount attacks on Britain.

    “This will have my relentless focus in 2010, just as Afghanistan will have. We will steadily be giving more control of Afghanistan to Afghan troops and police.

    On the economy, the PM said the Government’s strategy is to “go for growth”, and in his podcast he predicts that the New Year will mark the start of a “great decade for a great nation”.

    Mr Brown said the Government is determined to reduce the deficit without “choking off” the recovery or damaging frontline services.

    “Even as we take the tough decisions to halve the deficit, we can still invest in Britain’s future. I say this because Britain is too great a country with so much potential – and people with such high aspirations – that in the coming decade we must not settle for anything less than big ambitions.”

    The Prime Minister said the Government will shortly publish the first part of its plan for investment in industries and jobs for the future.

    “If we continue to make the right decisions to unleash all the talent that is to be found in these islands, we have much to look forward to – and you and your families have my warm best wishes for the year ahead.”

    The PM’s podcasts, which are available on our iTunes channel and YouTube, are recorded at Downing Street or around the world when the Prime Minister is travelling.

  • Gordon Brown – 2010 Letter to Medical Aid for Palestinians

    Gordon Brown – 2010 Letter to Medical Aid for Palestinians

    The letter sent by Gordon Brown, the then Prime Minister, to Medical Aid for Palestinians on 1 January 2010.

    Dear Friends

    Your open letter to me of 27 December in The Observer was right to draw attention to the grave humanitarian situation in Gaza, one year after a conflict that cost over a thousand Palestinian lives and those of over ten Israelis.

    As I have made clear repeatedly to the Israeli government, it is unacceptable that Israel continues to prevent aid from reaching those who so badly need it in Gaza. EU Foreign Ministers reinforced our call for full humanitarian access earlier this month.

    Alongside diplomatic pressure, I pledge that the UK will remain in the forefront of the humanitarian effort. Following the offensive a year ago, we spent £20 million on humanitarian aid for the people of Gaza.

    And on 28 December, Douglas Alexander announced a total package of £53.5 million for Palestine, with a particular focus on Gaza – including £5 million of new funding for the United Nations’ work with Gazan refugees.

    While Hamas’ actions can be no justification for preventing aid reaching the people of Gaza, Hamas must remove the menace of rocket attacks against the people of southern Israel, and release Gilad Shalit.

    Ultimately, we can only give the people of Gaza real hope when genuine negotiations bring a lasting and just peace settlement. The parameters of such a potential agreement are clear. In the coming year, we must pursue still more vigorously a comprehensive peace based on secure and viable states of Israel and Palestine. For all of our futures, those who oppose justice and peace for the peoples of the region must not be allowed to prevail.

    Yours sincerely

    Gordon Brown

  • Gordon Brown – 2010 Article on Super Fast Broadband

    Gordon Brown – 2010 Article on Super Fast Broadband

    The article written by Gordon Brown for the Daily Telegraph on 8 January 2010 and released by 10 Downing Street as a press release.

    The severe weather gripping Britain has closed businesses and schools and left many people unable to get to work or keep appointments. Police advice – rightly – is not to travel unless your journey is essential. But if you urgently need to see a doctor, or keep a business running, you may feel that you must venture out in spite of the conditions.

    Rural communities particularly suffer at such times. But imagine if you could hold a consultation with your GP over the internet in real time, or easily access your office computer network from home, or hold two-way video conferences. These are the very real possibilities that super-fast broadband could offer within just a few short years.

    By investing now in this digital revolution, we can bring to households and businesses all over the country internet speeds 50 times faster than most people experience today. Such advanced communications will encourage more employees and employers to make greater use of teleworking. This can deliver benefits both to the firm and the worker, as well as the wider economy, society and the environment.

    Teleworking can mean more job opportunities, for example, for the disabled and those with child-care responsibilities who wish to work part-time – or allow someone to take a job with a firm based too far away for a daily commute – while also improving work-life balance for many. Potentially, it can also contribute to reducing congestion and lowering carbon emissions.

    The number of people working remotely from home more than doubled in the decade to 2007 and, as next-generation broadband becomes more widely available, this figure will only increase rapidly. All our lives will be transformed beyond recognition by the exciting opportunities for business, education, leisure and access to public services. Indeed, it will soon be seen as indispensable as electricity, gas or water.

    The private sector is rightly leading the way, and investing significant sums in next-generation digital communications and technologies. But, left alone, they are likely to reach only the two-thirds of communities, mainly urban and highly populated, seen as commercially viable. And I am clear that this revolution must benefit all, and so here there is also a role for targeted, strategic action by government.

    We must complement and assist broadband providers to move farther and faster; to bring super-fast connections to households and businesses to every corner of the country. That is why we have set out plans for £1 billion of extra investment to ensure that all regions of Britain – including those with sparse populations – are covered by 2017. We are doing this, even in a recession, because the fastest and most modern broadband network will create and expand thousands of companies and mean thousands of new jobs.

    The digital initiative is just one of the many ways through which we believe we can create 1.5 million new skilled jobs in the coming years. And no one area should be left out of this expansion in opportunity simply because of its location.

    We are determined in particular to see rural communities benefit from this investment and the economic and social advantages that will inevitably follow.

    So, by using the previously announced fixed-line levy to finance this, we must move forward quickly with digitalisation and extension of broadband to make Britain a leader in the digital world.

    A comprehensive digital infrastructure is one of the key foundations of the UK’s future growth and prosperity. And government will help to unleash the innovative and entrepreneurial spirit at which Britain excels, by releasing thousands of publicly held data sets, as a result of the vision of Sir Tim Berners-Lee.

    When, for example, figures on London’s most dangerous roads for cyclists were published, an online map detailing where accidents happened was produced almost immediately to help them avoid blackspots and reduce injuries. After data on dentists went live, an iPhone application was created to show people where the nearest surgery was to their current location.

    Thanks, too, to the exceptional work of Martha Lane Fox, our aim within the next five years is to shift the vast majority of large transactional services online. This should help secure even better value for money. Evidence from local authorities indicates that on average, carrying out a telephone transaction online can save £3.30 and switching from paper and mail to online can save £12 per time. In all, it is estimated that shifting significant transactions in this way could save £1 billion.

    Yesterday, we launched a plan for going for growth – “Our Future Prosperity” – setting out how we will harness the value of enterprise, knowledge and of our greatest asset: people. And investing in a modern infrastructure, including high-speed rail and super-fast broadband, is critical to its success.

  • Gordon Brown – 2010 Comments on the 20th Anniversary of the Release of Nelson Mandela

    Gordon Brown – 2010 Comments on the 20th Anniversary of the Release of Nelson Mandela

    The comments made by Gordon Brown, the then Prime Minister, on 11 February 2010.

    Meeting Nelson Mandela for the first time was one of the proudest moments of my life. It felt a long way from my first engagement in his cause when I was Editor of my student newspaper and breaking a story about the University’s investments in apartheid South Africa. I didn’t know then that there would be a wave of campus occupations, and our University like so many others would be forced to disinvest, or that for the next 20 years as a student, a trade unionist, an MP and then a shadow minister I would remain involved in the campaign against this despicable racist regime.

    I don’t think any of us will ever forget where we were on the day Nelson Mandela was freed. The first President of a rainbow South Africa, Madiba spent his life after prison not to recrimination and revenge, but to healing a divided nation in the service of his people.

    His story reminds us that that there is no corner of the earth so far away, no injustice so entrenched, no enemy so powerful that people of good conscience cannot campaign for change and win. Five years ago, Nelson Mandela addressed a crowd in Trafalgar Square and thanked the people of Britain for their solidarity during his imprisonment. On your behalves, I would like to thank him in turn. Because today – on the twentieth anniversary of his release – it is his example that gives us the hope to struggle anew for the justice and freedom for all people to which he has dedicated his life.

  • Gordon Brown – 2010 Message to the Winter Olympics Team

    Gordon Brown – 2010 Message to the Winter Olympics Team

    The message sent by Gordon Brown, the then Prime Minister, on 12 February 2010.

    When Britain won the right to host the Summer Games in 2012, we did it with a promise to inspire a generation of young people in this country.

    And as Great Britain’s team for the Vancouver Winter Olympics, you are now the most important torchbearers of that promise.

    Nothing has more power to inspire young people than seeing our best athletes competing at the very pinnacle of their sport.

    While you’re away, it will be hard to truly appreciate the impact that your performances over the next fortnight will be having at home.

    But you will all be aware of the unique place that elite sportsmen and women hold in our culture – and the extraordinary relationship Britons have with our sporting heroes.

    The country is tremendously proud of your achievements in reaching the Games – and proud of a team that can boast current world champions and a host of outstanding talent.

    The whole nation is behind you – as ambassadors not only for your sport and your country, but also for London 2012.

    I wish you every success and the very best of luck.

  • Gordon Brown – 2010 Podcast Text on the Economic Recovery

    Gordon Brown – 2010 Podcast Text on the Economic Recovery

    The text of a podcast made by Gordon Brown, the then Prime Minister, on 3 April 2010.

    For many of us, Easter is a time for reflection and spending time together as a family.

    I know that times have been tough and that many people are still apprehensive about their jobs, their homes and their businesses.

    Whether it’s a worker watching their wages, or a parent juggling the household budget, or a small business owner calculating the cash flow, I hear every day how worried people still are.

    Our economy has just been through a global financial crisis and at the moment we’re in a period of fragile recovery. In the past few months growth has returned. In fact, latest figures show that in the last quarter of 2009 the economy grew faster than people originally thought – by 0.4 per cent.

    And in the last three months we have seen unemployment fall. And we have seen vacancies rise.

    In total 300,000 men and women are leaving the unemployment register every month.

    The improved ‘Time to Pay’ scheme has given over 200,000 businesses longer to pay £5bn worth of tax. These businesses employ more than 1.4 million people, and the additional time has helped those businesses pay more of the tax they owed.

    And this year almost half a million families have received extra tax credits.

    All our efforts have been focused on getting us through the recession – and now they are designed to secure the recovery.

    That’s why we have a designed a plan to secure the recovery and raise your living standards.

    First of all, we are continuing the vital support we have been giving the economy until recovery has firmly taken root.

    That includes the extra investments we’re making in big infrastructure projects like high-speed rail – and the support we are giving to the sectors which will underpin our return to prosperity: industries like low carbon; digital; advanced manufacturing and life sciences.

    And secondly, we are from this month increasing the support we’re giving to small businesses – the backbone of our UK economy.

    Our Time to Pay scheme is now being extended until the end of the next Parliament.

    And we’re cutting business rates from October for a year for over half a million small businesses in England – 345,000 of whom will pay no business rates at all.

    And then thirdly, we are increasing the number of jobs created for young people through the actions of the Future Jobs Fund.

    This is providing up to 120,000 paid jobs for young people and a further 50,000 jobs for those over 25 in the hardest hit areas.

    In total we’ve put £5 billion in to help people looking for jobs – money that some people opposed.

    I believe that securing the recovery is the biggest issue facing our country. That means we shouldn’t take money out of the economy this year.

    Let me explain it a bit like this: I know Wayne Rooney’s just had an injury to his foot and I know everyone will be hoping he’s fit for the World Cup but after an injury you need support to recover, you need support to get back to match fitness, you need support to get back your full strength and then go on to lift the World Cup.

    So with the economy – we’re not back to full fitness, we need to maintain support. If you withdraw support too early, we’ll risk doing more damage. And that’s why so many people – the CBI, IMF, the Institute for Fiscal Studies, economists and other thinkers and the vast majority of business people I’ve spoken to say it’s wrong to take money out of the economy this year. And that’s why I think it’s wrong to say that we should take six or seven billion pounds out of the economy this year.

    Now of course we need to make sure that money goes to skills, to jobs, to small businesses and to job creation and we need to be ruthless on cutting down on waste – and we’re doing that – but if we try and jump off the treatment table as if nothing had happened we’ll do more damage to the economy – and frankly that means we risk a double-dip recession.

    I think that’s a risk we can’t afford to take. So going for growth and jobs to achieve prosperity for all is the overriding duty and responsibility of this Government – and I promise you we will not let you or your family down.