Gordon Brown’s ‘economic war Cabinet’ to put Britain on the front line

Gordon Brown defended his Cabinet reshuffle yesterday as being in the national interest, saying that he was revamping government to meet the challenge of the financial crisis. The Prime Minister has set up a National Economic Council, which will meet twice weekly, brought in a host of leading industrialists to be business ambassadors, made Paul Myners, a former chairman of Marks & Spencer, his City Minister, and recalled Peter Mandelson from Brussels. He said that he was assembling the best team possible to bring Britain through its troubles because serious people were needed for serious times. Asked whether he had taken leave of his senses in restoring the twice-resigned Mr Mandelson, he said: “He has unrivalled experience as the Trade Commissioner of the European Commission. Everybody has said right round the world that he... [read full story]