Brown attempts re-launch in unveiling 'Britain's future'
Brown attempts re-launch in unveiling 'Britain's future'
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Monday, 29, Jun 2009 04:28
Gordon Brown has unveiled a series of public sector reforms in what effectively has been seen as an early general election manifesto today.
The prime minister detailed the 'Building Britain's Future' report to a packed House of Commons earlier this afternoon.
Measures detailed within the package included a commitment to offer anyone under 25 a guaranteed job, work experience or training, with an "obligation" for the individual to accept the offer.
Extra investment in housing will be trebled by funding reallocation, Mr Brown said, resulting in an increase from £600 million to £2.1 billion investment, which in turn will lead to 110,000 new homes to rent or buy.
There will also be a significant expansion of private-sector involvement in the NHS for cancer patients.
Senior Labour figures had hoped the agenda for maintaining high-level public services would be easily contrasted with the Conservatives' alleged plans for ten per cent cuts in public services, a figure the party disputes.
However, today's announcement was partly overshadowed by business secretary Lord Mandelson's admission that the package would not be accompanied by a new spending plan, causing Conservative leader David Cameron to describe the announcements as a "relaunch, without a spending tag".
Other measures unveiled by Mr Brown today included "the best headteachers" working in more than one school with trusts, academies and federations to be expanded.
Mr Brown also promised to legislate in the next session to complete the process of ridding the Lords of the hereditary principle and allow for the dismissal of members.
Government announcements are set to continue this week with a white paper on education from children's secretary Ed Balls tomorrow to be followed on Wednesday by a consumer white paper, published by Mr Brown, Lord Mandelson and Kevin Brennan.