Brown's being snubbed all over the place it seems.
xxxxxxxxxxxxx cs
===============
Gordon Brown found his G20 roadshow upstaged once again today, as the
man who will officially represent the European Union at next week's
London summit destroyed any last hope of a united continental
approach to the economic crisis.
The Prime Minister was in New York trying to muster support for a
united front, arguing for agreement on reforms of the global
financial system and for the world's major economies to follow
America's example and spend their way out of trouble.
However, as Mr Brown was taking part in a breakfast debate hosted by
The Wall Street Journal, Mirek Topolanek, the Czech Prime Minister,
was astonishing MEPs in Strasbourg when he described Barack Obama's
financial recovery plan - backed by Mr Brown - as "the road to Hell".
Ignoring an appeal made yesterday by Mr Brown to his EU partners for
a unified response to ensure economic recovery, Mr Topolanek said
that the American recovery package would "undermine the liquidity of
the global financial market" and "the United States did not take the
right path".
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
EXPERT VIEW
Far from launching an attack on the bankers, Brown was forced onto
the defensive
Francis Elliott, Deputy Political Editor
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
He also slammed the widening budget deficit and protectionist trade
measures - such as the "Buy America" policies included in the
stimulus bill - although Mr Obama has said he opposes protectionism
in principle.
At a breakfast debate hosted by The Wall Street Journal with such
luminaries as the former World Bank chief James Wolfensohn and Henry
Kissinger, the former US Secretary of State, Mr Brown repeated that
the G20 leaders would do "whatever it takes" [not again - perlease! -
cs] to get a global deal to solve the financial crisis.
The Prime Minister also claimed that there was "far more agreement"
internationally - and with the Governor of the Bank of England - than
had been claimed.
"What the issue is actually now is whether we are prepared, given
what happens over the next few months, to do what is necessary to
resume growth in the economy," he said.
"I think, if you put that question to Mervyn King, he will say - as
he said when he signed the G20 communique - that we have got to be
ready to take action that is ready to restore growth."
Both Mr Brown and Mr Obama, who is to visit London for next Tuesday's
summit [Ahem! next THURSday's -cs], have made it clear that they
want to see more money poured into reviving economies across the
world despite the inflationary risks.
Writing in The Times this morning, Mr Obama says that the G20 nations
have a "responsibility to take bold, comprehensive and co-ordinated
action that not only jump-starts recovery, but also launches a new
era of economic engagement to prevent a crisis like this from ever
happening again"
.
But at last week's EU summit in Brussels, the tensions were obvious
as Germany, France and other major EU countries resisted American
calls for a massive and coordinated fiscal stimulus and made it clear
that Mr Brown, as summit host, would not be allowed to sign Europe up
to one.
The EU has already collectively poured nearly $370 billion into the
European economy so far and Germany, France and the European
Commission are leading calls for the focus to move to tighter
financial regulations - which the UK fears could damage the City.
Today Mr Topolanek said: "We need to read the history books and the
lessons of history and the biggest success of the (EU) is the refusal
to go this way.
"Americans will need liquidity to finance all their measures and they
will balance this with the sale of their bonds but this will
undermine the liquidity of the global financial market."
The attack by Mr Topolanek, who last night lost a domestic vote of no-
confidence in his own government's handling of the crisis, came a day
after Mervyn King, Governor of the Bank of England, was warning MPs
that the UK couldnot afford a further "signficant fiscal expansion".
========================
THE TIMES 25.3.09
Czech PM destroys Brown's hopes of unity and upstages Wall Street trip
Philippe Naughton
man who will officially represent the European Union at next week's
London summit destroyed any last hope of a united continental
approach to the economic crisis.
The Prime Minister was in New York trying to muster support for a
united front, arguing for agreement on reforms of the global
financial system and for the world's major economies to follow
America's example and spend their way out of trouble.
However, as Mr Brown was taking part in a breakfast debate hosted by
The Wall Street Journal, Mirek Topolanek, the Czech Prime Minister,
was astonishing MEPs in Strasbourg when he described Barack Obama's
financial recovery plan - backed by Mr Brown - as "the road to Hell".
Ignoring an appeal made yesterday by Mr Brown to his EU partners for
a unified response to ensure economic recovery, Mr Topolanek said
that the American recovery package would "undermine the liquidity of
the global financial market" and "the United States did not take the
right path".
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
EXPERT VIEW
Far from launching an attack on the bankers, Brown was forced onto
the defensive
Francis Elliott, Deputy Political Editor
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
He also slammed the widening budget deficit and protectionist trade
measures - such as the "Buy America" policies included in the
stimulus bill - although Mr Obama has said he opposes protectionism
in principle.
At a breakfast debate hosted by The Wall Street Journal with such
luminaries as the former World Bank chief James Wolfensohn and Henry
Kissinger, the former US Secretary of State, Mr Brown repeated that
the G20 leaders would do "whatever it takes" [not again - perlease! -
cs] to get a global deal to solve the financial crisis.
The Prime Minister also claimed that there was "far more agreement"
internationally - and with the Governor of the Bank of England - than
had been claimed.
"What the issue is actually now is whether we are prepared, given
what happens over the next few months, to do what is necessary to
resume growth in the economy," he said.
"I think, if you put that question to Mervyn King, he will say - as
he said when he signed the G20 communique - that we have got to be
ready to take action that is ready to restore growth."
Both Mr Brown and Mr Obama, who is to visit London for next Tuesday's
summit [Ahem! next THURSday's -cs], have made it clear that they
want to see more money poured into reviving economies across the
world despite the inflationary risks.
Writing in The Times this morning, Mr Obama says that the G20 nations
have a "responsibility to take bold, comprehensive and co-ordinated
action that not only jump-starts recovery, but also launches a new
era of economic engagement to prevent a crisis like this from ever
happening again"
.
But at last week's EU summit in Brussels, the tensions were obvious
as Germany, France and other major EU countries resisted American
calls for a massive and coordinated fiscal stimulus and made it clear
that Mr Brown, as summit host, would not be allowed to sign Europe up
to one.
The EU has already collectively poured nearly $370 billion into the
European economy so far and Germany, France and the European
Commission are leading calls for the focus to move to tighter
financial regulations - which the UK fears could damage the City.
Today Mr Topolanek said: "We need to read the history books and the
lessons of history and the biggest success of the (EU) is the refusal
to go this way.
"Americans will need liquidity to finance all their measures and they
will balance this with the sale of their bonds but this will
undermine the liquidity of the global financial market."
The attack by Mr Topolanek, who last night lost a domestic vote of no-
confidence in his own government's handling of the crisis, came a day
after Mervyn King, Governor of the Bank of England, was warning MPs
that the UK couldnot afford a further "signficant fiscal expansion".
========================
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