Brown priority 'to help families'

Last Modified: 14 May 2008
By: Gary Gibbon

Setting out his programme for the next year, the prime minister says his priority is to help family finances. Gary Gibbon reports.

With the 10p tax revolt now behind him, Gordon Brown today attempted to redefine his leadership of the Labour party and the country.

He set out a draft programme for the next year of his government, and told MPs that his immediate priority was to help family finances.

Mr Brown announced 18 draft bills, including a savings gateway bill to encourage more saving among the poorest in society.

There will be an education and skills bill to promote fair access to schools.

A welfare reform bill will bring in compulsory skills training for the long-term unemployed, and more of Britain's coastline will be opened up with a marine and coastal access bill.

But the opposition accused Mr Brown of having "run out of road, run out of money and run out of ideas".