Under-fire Brown takes Cabinet to Liverpool

GORDON BROWN convened his Cabinet in Liverpool today in an attempt to show the Government actively tackling the recession.

However, his flurry of economic initiatives came under fire from the executive chairman of Marks & Spencer, Sir Stuart Rose, for lacking consistency.

The retailer called on the Government to halt "stop-start" policies that left consumers confused. "The Government needs to put in place a series of measures and stick to its story," he said.

"It needs to say 'things will get better, this is what we are doing' not stop-start or come out with a raft of new measures."

Sir Stuart joined other retailers criticising the 2.5 per cent VAT cut as ineffective and costly.

The criticisms came as the Treasury confirmed the Evening Standard's report that it may have to print more money as a last resort to beat the recession.

Mr Brown was stepping up his political strategy of high-profile ministerial activism to reassure the public that the Government is focused on their worries about jobs and homes.

The entire Cabinet was spread across Merseyside and Manchester this morning, touring schemes and making announcements, including £35 million for the regional economy, as the centrepiece of a three-day tour.

Mr Brown insisted: "The first thing on my mind is that I'm here to help the families and businesses in this country come through this global problem."

It is the third Cabinet meeting held outside London this year, each costing an estimated £200,000 in security and red tape. The Prime Minister also went fund-raising for Labour, holding a private party at Liverpool's Newz Bar, a haunt of footballers and celebrities.