PM: We're not complacent on economy

14 January 2009 07:37pm

Gordon Brown has insisted that he was "never complacent" about the economy after one of his key ministers sparked controversy by claiming that she had seen the "green shoots of recovery".

The comments by Business Minister Baroness Vadera on Wednesday, a day when thousands more jobs went to the wall, triggered a bitter political row over the Government's response to the economic crisis.

At a news conference in Berlin, where he was holding talks with German chancellor Angela Merkel on the economic situation, Mr Brown sought to defuse the controversy.

He insisted that the Government had already taken a series of measures to ease the crisis.

"We are vigilant in every respect about the economy, never complacent," he said.

"We have further announcements to make that show that in every area where there are problems that people feel in their everyday lives, where real help is needed for businesses and families, we will not stand by on the other side. We will be ready to help."

© The Press Association