Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Pastimes : The Hot Button Questions:- Money, Banks, & the Economy -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: maceng2 who wrote (446)	9/29/2003 10:23:29 AM
From: maceng2	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 1417

UK can be world's role model, says Brown By James Blitz, Political Editor Published: September 29 2003 5:00 \| Last Updated: September 29 2003 5:00 [Note: Gordon Brown = Dorkus of first magnitude imho ..pb] -g- news.ft.com Gordon Brown will on Monday argue that the UK can be an economic beacon to the world because of its unique mix of enterprise and fairness - in contrast to its image as a transatlantic bridge in relation to Iraq. Delivering a confident assessment of Britain's place in the global economy, Mr Brown will say that British values of economic dynamism mixed with social justice will make the UK a unique model for other countries to follow. Addressing conference on the crest of several opinion polls that show growing numbers of voters and Labour activists would like to see him take over as prime minister, Mr Brown will argue that the US economy is enterprising but not always seen as fair. He will say that the rest of Europe, although more socially cohesive than America, is not seen as enterprising. He will say: "We in Britain can be the first country to combine a vibrant enterprising economy awash with dynamism with a strong public realm where public services are based not on charges or vouchers, but are free to all." His speech will appeal to activists who believe Tony Blair's self-cast role as a bridge between the US and Europe, especially over Iraq, is too passive and subservient. The chancellor believes that a range of British institutions like the National Health Service, the monetary policy framework for the Bank of England and the "welfare to work" strategy make the UK a unique economic model. His emphasis on the promotion of British values will also appeal to those Labour activists and members of the public who believe the government must maintain a tough stance on the question of euro entry. The chancellor will spell out his concern that the UK must fight for reform of the eurozone stability pact and will issue his strongest critique yet of what he calls the "scandal" of the Common Agricultural Policy. Despite the weekend opinion polls in his favour - and evidence yesterday of fresh tensions between Number 11 and the Blairite health secretary John Reid over the two-tier workforce - the chancellor is determined to suppress any public hint of disloyalty to the prime minister. Nick Brown, the former agriculture minister and a close ally of the chancellor, issued a rare note of public disquiet about the Blair leadership over the weekend. He told The Politics Show on BBC television: "There is a feeling . . . that we are losing the trust of people that ought to be on our side." However, the chancellor will want to focus the attention of conference on policy, shifting attention from specific disputes on delivery of public services towards the deeper economic reforms that he believes are making the UK more dynamic. Mr Brown believes it was a tactical mistake by Downing Street and the former health secretary Alan Milburn last year to make the creation of foundation hospitals into a totemic issue that would arouse the anger of trade unions. Although he is working closely with Charles Clarke, the education secretary, over aspects of the forthcoming university funding reforms, he also believes the government should have tried to sound less confrontational. Aides to the chancellor argue that the Treasury has been able to deliver significant welfare-to-work reforms by acting with stealth. "We have created a system of workfare in the UK without anybody complaining about it," one said.