'Best pals' Ken and Gordon hit the campaign trail

Published by Jon Land for 24dash.com in Local Government and also in Central Government

Gordon Brown joined Ken Livingstone on the mayoral campaign trail today, where he defended his handling of the economy and introduced a new "golden rule".

Mr Brown, who was attending Sikh Vaisakhi (New Year) celebrations with the London Mayor at an east London temple said his new rule was to reflect the values of the Sikh community, "values of tolerance, of equality, of justice, of treating people with fairness, values that uphold our religious and spiritual views".

Success for Mr Livingstone in the capital on May 1 is widely seen as a key test of the Prime Minister's under fire leadership, and Mr Brown is under intense pressure over the economy.

But speaking at the Gurdwara Singh Sabha London East in Ilford, Essex he said he had had to steer the economy through a number of difficulties over the past 11 years and he would continue to do so.

He said: "If people ask the question will the British economy come through this, we're on the side of homeowners and businesses who are looking to see what is going to happen in the future and that's why we are taking exactly the right decisions and we'll continue to do so.

"We're listening to what the people of this country say to keep inflation low and therefore interest rates low, to make sure we do everything in our power to create the conditions in which these low interest rates are passed on to mortgage holders and to businesses."

He said the country had been through difficult times in the past but he had shown that it was possible to get through them and he was "utterly satisfied" that he was taking the right steps.

He continued: "We are the only economy of the major economies that has continued to grow without a major recession in the last 10 years."

Mr Brown was speaking after a tour of the temple and he and Mr Livingstone were both presented, along with local MP Mike Gapes, with a orange robe of honour and book by the temple's president.

Mr Brown said he was particularly concerned to do everything possible to help young homebuyers who were struggling to afford housing and said more would be done over the next few weeks.

He said he had a meeting with City finance institutions tomorrow as he wanted to see cuts in interest rates passed on by mortgage lenders.

He said he would continue to spend on public services to create jobs and make the difficult decisions where necessary.

Mr Livingstone said he did not expect London to enter a recession, pointing out that income on the London Underground - a "very clear" sign of an economic downturn - was up 6% this month compared to a year ago.

He said: "I don't expect there to be a recession in this city and that partly reflects the fact that we have rebalanced the London economy.

"There is so much investment now from China, from India, from Russia, from around the world and these economies are still going strongly."

He said the signs were that the economy was still growing strongly, up 3% last year and expected to rise 1.5% this year.

Mr Brown and Mr Livingstone, who have not always seen eye to eye in the past, heaped praise on each other.

The Mayor said London was at a "turning point" but, after years of under-investment, the Government has "poured resources" into the capital.

He said that after 40 years of debate it was Gordon Brown who committed £16 billion to the Crossrail project which would transform the quality of life and transport of Londoners.

He said that since "Gordon" became Prime Minister, several changes to the Mayor's powers had been introduced, including the transfer of control for skills and training.

He said Mr Brown had also committed £4 billion to spend in the next three years, "enough to build 50,000 new homes that Londoners can afford".

"I say thank you to the Prime Minister," he said. "He's given me a vast amount more to do. All I require now is that you put me back to get on with the work. London has been given a chance it hasn't had for 30 years. Let's not see it squandered and wasted."

Mr Livingstone, who praised those present for their community spirit and diversity, criticised the Conservatives for not representing the diverse communities through their candidates.

He also attacked Tory candidate Boris Johnson for his lack of experience, which consisted of running a "small right-wing magazine".

Mr Brown, who started by wishing everybody a Happy New Year in the Sikh language, also praised his hosts for their teachings, in particular treating others as you would like to be treated yourself.

"Treating others as you would like to be treated yourself is a rule that I believe has got relevance to every community in this country, building tolerance, building justice, building equality and building fairness,"
he said.

He continued: "Ken Livingstone has been a Mayor who has, with great innovation, great determination and great support right across London, invested more in policing and protecting the people of our community than any local authority or any local leader before him."

Mr Brown said that as well as earning praise for increasing higher visibility policing, Mr Livingstone deserved credit for investments in transport and housing.