UK PM Brown urges Europe to go for economic growth

“Now that the European Central Bank, like the Bank of England, has indicated they expect interest rates will remain low for the foreseeable future, I want to see ... a push for growth,” Brown will tell business leaders later on Monday.

“I am calling on European leaders for a renewed focus on delivering European growth,” he will say, according to excerpts from the speech released in advance by his office.

Brown and opposition leader David Cameron will both address the annual conference of Britain's main business lobby, the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), on Monday as they try to win over business support before an election due by June.

A poll published on Sunday showed the centre-right Conservatives' lead over Brown's Labour Party slashed to six points, raising the possibility neither party could win a parliamentary majority in the general election.

That would be the worst case scenario for financial markets, which fear the result would be a weak government incapable of taking decisive action to cut public sector borrowing, forecast to hit 175 billion pounds (US$263 billion) this year.

Brown will publish proposals for a new European growth strategy. He suggests measures could include incentives for new private investment, a push on European-wide research and development, and steps to break down barriers to cross-border business, including in banking and financial services.

Europe should think about how to create the 10 million new jobs the continent needed, Brown will say, and that higher European growth would mean thousands of new jobs in Britain.

In the speech, Brown promises to keep economic stimulus measures in place in Britain until the recovery is established.

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