UN and G20 meetings
‘Gordon Brown warned fellow leaders last night against “switching off life support” as the world economy starts to emerge from the recession.’ – Philip Webster, The Times
‘The climate deal planned for Copenhagen in 10 weeks’ time is in grave danger of failure, the prime minister has said.
Gordon Brown has become the first world leader to offer to go to the Danish capital to help seal the deal.’ – BBC
‘If ever there was a week for putting the world to rights, this is it. Tuesday sees a special UN summit of world leaders to jump-start the process of salvaging the climate. On Wednesday the general assembly’s general debate opens, with an agenda that straddles Middle East peace, terrorism and global poverty. Then, on Thursday, Barack Obama takes the chair for a special session of the security council, at which nuclear disarmament will be the chief talking point. Just in case leading statesmen are left feeling unsatisfied at this point, the most powerful will then up sticks from New York to Pittsburgh, and then reassemble as the G20, the grouping charged with speeding the world’s escape from what remains an extraordinary slump.’ – Editorial, The Guardian
‘The United States is unlikely to be the nation that blazes the trail toward a bold new future in Copenhagen at the world gathering in December. And Barack Obama, though he may well deliver a stirring speech to the general assembly on Tuesday , is unlikely, at least at this point in his tenure, to be the leader who sets the example for the rest of the world to meet on new emission standards. The reason can be summed up in two words: domestic politics.’ – Michael Tomasky, The Guardian
‘With this week’s security council summit and, next May, the review conference of the nuclear non-proliferation treaty, we have a historic opportunity to make progress across the entire nuclear agenda. What do we need to do? In July, Gordon Brown set out a detailed strategy for the period up to the review conference and beyond to bring us the security and prosperity we seek in the decades to come.’ – David Miliband, The Guardian
Lib Dem conference
‘Nick Clegg has conceded that he may have gone too far in calling for “savage” public spending cuts as he used an interview with The Times to ease tensions within his party over his choice of language.’ – Sam Coates, The Times
‘Charles Kennedy made a return to frontline politics yesterday, charming Liberal Democrat activists in Bournemouth while establishing himself as the voice of the grassroots and a potential problem for Nick Clegg.’ – Sam Coates, The Times
Osborne under pressure
‘George Osborne
was last night at the heart of a bitter row over the economy after
claims that Gordon Brown was planning a hidden “tax bombshell” began to
backfire on the shadow chancellor.’ – Gaby Hinsliff, The Observer