Britain: Gordon Brown: History will charge Europe's leaders with West's decline - Gordon Brown

When the history of the 21st century is written, people will rightly ask why it was that Europe was found wanting during its most intractable economic crisis.

They will ask why Europe slept as an undercapitalized banking system floundered, unemployment remained unacceptably high, and the continent’s growth and competitiveness plummeted.

Worse still, if a reconstruction plan does not come soon, Europe’s leaders will be charged with “the decline of the West” and then face accusations for being, in the words of Winston Churchill about the 1930s, “resolved to be irresolute, adamant for drift, solid for fluidity and all-powerful for impotence.
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Standard: Gordon Brown ‘ready for live TV debate with David Cameron’ - by Anne McElvoy

Gordon Brown ‘ready for live TV debate with David Cameron’ - by Anne McElvoy

A presidential-style TV debate between Gordon Brown and David Cameron could be staged at the general election, Lord Mandelson has told the Standard. In an exclusive interview, the Prime Minister's most powerful ally suggested that Mr Brown would become the first incumbent of No10 to agree to the idea. "I don't think Gordon would have a problem with that," he said. "While Cameron is good with words, he doesn't have the ideas or policies to back them. I think people would see through the smile.

A TV debate would expose the Tory leader's weaknesses, he argued. “Cameron lacks substance and he might come across as someone who exudes effortless superiority in public, but loses his rag in private.”

Forbes.com: Britain - Brown's Last Stand- as his power quickly slips away - by Vidya Ram

Gordon Brown in happier days

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Britain - Brown's Last Stand- as his power quickly slips away - by Vidya Ram

Power is falling through Gordon Brown's fingers faster than sand. James Purnell, the minister for work and pensions, delivered the British prime minister his biggest blow late on Thursday, shortly after polling stations closed for local and European elections. In a public letter he called on Brown to "stand aside" in order to give the ruling Labor party a chance to win the next general election, then said he was quitting.Another sign of Brown's weakening hold is Treasury Minister Alistair Darling's refusal to step down. After he became mired in a scandal over expenses claims, Brown had repeatedly refused to confirm he would be in his job in ten days time, but the tide appears to have turned and government sources have now been telling the media that Darling will stay.

A re-shuffle of Brown's cabinet is now underway. Alan Johnson, currently in charge of health, has reportedly been moved to home secretary, previously the position of who recently resigned Jackie Smith. Alan Johnson, currently in charge of health is the bookmakers' favorite to take over as prime minister, if Brown's hold on the party completely folds.

The Independent: Britain, not Europe, will be the outsider at the G20 summit - by Mary Dejevsky

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Britain, not Europe, will be the outsider at the G20 summit - by Mary Dejevsky

Curl up in the warm cocoon of optimism and defensiveness being spun by Downing Street before G20 leaders convene next week in London, and quite soon you will feel a chill draught. The British are doing their utmost to save the world; they are best friends again with Washington, and most of the rest of the world is on their side. If only those pesky Europeans would see reason. If you dare, however, it is worth stepping outside the small world of British comfort-speak, and just listening. You will very quickly find – as I did, at a weekend meeting of EU politicians and others – that for many of those supposedly stubborn and suspect Europeans, it is the British who are out of line.The European misgivings are threefold. The first, and most immediate, relate to policy. The German and French governments adamantly oppose any international fiscal stimulus; they insist they have done enough to lubricate their own economies and want to wait to let the measures take effect. They worry about unleashing inflation – the same argument used a little half-heartedly by those in Britain opposed to increasing the money supply. If there is money to be contributed, the Europeans want to use existing institutions, such as the IMF – or, in the case of the ailing "new" European economies, EU mechanisms such as the European Central Bank.

Europe see in the whole British approach an arrogance quite insufferable, given Britain's role in what has happened and its abiding ambivalence towards the EU. They see it not just in our politicians, but still more in our diplomats and in the Foreign Secretary personally, for whose off-hand and didactic manner particular venom is reserved. They go on to cite two specific objections. London, they say, strove to be the global financial centre, without the national tax base to honour its international obligations.That the G20 summit will be held within sight of the bank towers of London's Docklands is an added irritation. As for anti-protectionism – the reserve summit theme if no international stimulus is agreed – they retort: What is the recent 30 per cent fall in sterling, if not protectionism by competitive devaluation?

xinhuanet: Germany, France underscores common ground in fighting financial crisis

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Germany, France underscores common ground in fighting financial crisis

They may not see eye-to-eye occasionally, but German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nocolas Sarkozy showed a united front on Thursday in rejecting U.S. calls for more economic stimulus plans amid a global economic downturn, and they stressed that the upcoming summit of the Group of 20 (G20) should achieve binding results on tougher financial regulations.

Speaking after a German-Franco summit meeting in Berlin, Sarkozy stressed that the two countries have already invested a lot to check economic meltdown. "We don't want to spend more, " said Sarkozy, adding that the European priority now is to achieve international agreements to tighten up regulation of financial markets. Merkel said on Thursday that British Prime Minister Gordon has signed up to agreement achieved at a European summit in Berlin last month which called for tougher regulation of hedge funds, a crackdown on tax havens and more funds for the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to help countries in crisis.

But British Chancellor of the Exchequer Alistair Darling seemed to send a different signal by saying on Wednesday that his country and the United States "see eye-to-eye" on the need for economic stimulus.

EU-Digest - Press TV - Chavez: G20 summit a waste of time

Press TV - Chavez: G20 summit a waste of time

Chavez: G20 summit a waste of time

Hugo Chavez says that G-20 summit in Washington is a waste of time, because it excluded the poor and is hosted by the people who caused the problem. "Really, I don't know what they are going to do in Washington, the host is to blame," Chavez said, referring to Saturday's meeting of the world's 20 richest countries to tackle the problems of world economy. "They are going to waste their time," Chavez said in a television speech to supporters.

Note EU-Digest: Probably not a complete waste of time. It will provide an opportunity for some of the major economic players in the world to exchange ideas, say goodbye to President Bush and to issue a positive statement. However, without the key player, President elect Obama, who is not yet sworn in as the leader of the USA, which deregulated financial system caused this whole problem in the first place, no decisions of any importance can be made. It's also interesting to see that the British PM Gordon Brown, who fought his country's participation in a common European currency and close regulatory and monetary cooperation, has now suddenly become an advocate of a more structured global financial system. In this respect, it seems that the only world leader who has come up with well thought out plan for a badly needed restructured capitalist system is Mr. Nicolas Sarkozy, the President of France, presently also holding the Presidency of the EU.

Canada.com: British elections: Brown's party routed in UK elections, loses London - by Tim Castle and Katherine Baldwin

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British elections: Brown's party routed in UK elections, loses London - by Tim Castle and Katherine Baldwin

"If the economic crisis continues through 2010, Brown's dead in the water," MORI pollster Robert Worcester told Reuters. The Conservatives, the once dominant party of Margaret Thatcher and Winston Churchill, were in buoyant mood after more than a decade in the political wilderness.They scored victories in the north of England where they have struggled and in Labour heartlands in Wales. Labor lost Reading council, its last remaining stronghold in the wealthy southeast of England.

BBC NEWS: Boycott China Olympics: Brown denies avoiding China row

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Boycott China Olympics: Brown denies avoiding China row

Gordon Brown has rejected suggestions he avoided a human rights row with China because Britain could not afford to jeopardize economic relations. "It's nothing to do with that - in a human rights dialogue with China we make our views perfectly clear," the prime minister told the BBC. Note EU-Digest: Tell us another one Mr. Brown...

The Australian: UK takes another step away from US - by Tom Baldwin

Gordon Brown moves away from George Bush Policies
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The UK takes another step away from US - by Tom Baldwin

"British Prime Minister Gordon Brown's Government took another tentative step to distance itself from President George W. Bush yesterday, mixing praise for the US with carefully coded criticisms of its foreign policy. One of Mr Brown's closest allies, International Development Secretary Douglas Alexander, used a speech in Washington yesterday to rebuke what many in Labour's ranks regard as Mr Bush's unilateralist and high-handed approach over much of the past six years. Mr Alexander said that a country's might is "too often measured in what they could destroy" and that "in the 21st century, strength should be measured by what we can build together".

In an appeal for greater use of reformed multilateralist institutions such as the UN and the World Bank, he said: "Just as we need the rule of law at home to have civilization, so we need rules abroad to ensure global civilization."

The Independent: Asylum-seeker from Nigeria becomes the first black Irish mayor - by David Mckittrick

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Asylum-seeker from Nigeria becomes the first black Irish mayor - by David Mckittrick

A Nigerian who fled to Ireland as an asylum-seeker has just become the country's first black mayor, in what is seen as a landmark in multicultural relations.Mr Adebari, who is married with four children, arrived in Ireland seven years ago after fleeing religious persecution in Nigeria. He had a difficult start but has since established himself as a councillor and as an activist promoting community relations and integration. He set up a consultancy to train companies and educational institutions in multicultural awareness while completing a masters degree in intercultural studies at a Dublin university. He has also hosted a weekly radio programme dealing with issues of social inclusion, and has won awards for his work and for "the creativity and commitment he has applied to creating an integrated intercultural society".

Telegraph: Does Brown have a doctrine for Britain? - by Philip Johnston

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Does Brown have a doctrine for Britain? - by Philip Johnston

So who are Mr Brown's gurus? When he was younger, the most important was his father, the Rev John Brown, a Presbyterian minister with a highly developed social conscience that he bequeathed to the young Gordon.Another of Brown's political and intellectual heroes is James Maxton, the maverick Socialist and pacifist who led the Independent Labour Party, on which he wrote his doctoral thesis. In Scottish Left-wing circles, Maxton was a towering figure, a saint almost, though he was also essentially a failure since he never held office and eventually broke away from the mainstream Labour party in 1931.

"The big question is whether Gordon can move away from the micro-management he has shown at the Treasury and develop a grand design that will fulfil the moral purpose he has set himself."

Guardian: Brown risks isolation if he plays veto politics in Europe - by David Clark

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Brown risks isolation if he plays veto politics in Europe - by David Clark

Among the very first issues Gordon Brown will be forced to address as prime minister is Europe, and in particular plans to salvage parts of the ill-fated European constitution in the form of a new mini-treaty. He may even be pressed to take a firm stance before he enters Downing Street if German efforts to get agreement at next month's EU summit succeed. His reaction will set the tone for his Europe policy and, crucially, define his relationship with Angela Merkel and the other new boy, Nicolas Sarkozy, both of whom support a new treaty. Will Brown join a gang of three or will he prefer to adopt the role of Euro-outsider?

Times online: From Russia with Pain

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From Russia with Pain

Any incoming prime minister is understandably concerned about the immediate domestic policy challenges. Yet, as Tony Blair could ruefully testify, international events often prove the more awkward and traumatic tests. Some of these are “bolt from the blue” moments which demand a response – such as September 11, 2001 – while others are closer to what Churchill called the “gathering storm” sort of crisis.

Gordon Brown knows that there are controversies abroad which will occupy him. These include Iraq, the pesky reemergence of an EU constitution, the nature of his relationship with Washington, the conflict in Afghanistan and his ambitions for Africa.