Will a new young team boost UK welfare reform?
Gordon Brown plans to regain the political intiative next week by doing what he’s always loved doing – welfare reform – getting the jobless back into jobs.
James Purnell, the new work and pensions secretary will make a statement to the commons on emplyment policy. He previously drafted this for his predecessor, Peter Hain.
Both Purnell and the ’skills secretary’, John Denham will accompany the prime minister to an event on Monday.
At the World Economic Forum in Davos, Brown said “The most important thing people should know is we are getting on with the business of government,”
The prime minister’s efforts to return to policy agenda setting on the NHS, counter terrorism and something close to my heart – nuclear power, have been delayed by the long winded resignation of Hain and of course the problems of finding a solution to Northern Rock. Brown yesterday denied dithering by failing to sack Hain over his recent £100k donations for deputy leadership scandal. It was overheard from a senior aide that moving away from the “endless feeding frenzy around Electoral Commision investigations” will hopefully happen next week. Further info is available on the Guardian Unlimited site.
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