THE Prime Minister will put the focus on jobs this week during a three-day tour of the country, ending with a meeting of his Cabinet in Liverpool on Thursday.

Gordon Brown will today meet with leading business and regional figures at the Regional Economic Council to discuss regional economies, amid predictions the unemployment rate could top 3m this year.

He said it was too early to judge the success of his £37bn bank bail-out, and insisted he had “no plans” to call a General Election this year.

Mr Brown believes moves to bring forward £10bn of public projects will create or secure up to 100,000 jobs.

“I want to show how we will be able to, through public investments and public works, create probably 100,000 additional jobs over the next period of time in our capital investment programme – schools, hospitals, environmental work and infrastructure, transport.

“I want us to show we will do everything in our power to help people stay in jobs, to help people get new jobs if they lose their jobs, to help people get the skills for these jobs.”

He defended using increased borrowing to fund the new jobs.

“If we are going to move forward and advance our investment plans, whether it’s in schools or whether it’s in making for better environmental projects such as insulation or whether it’s building roads or rail, we are prepared to make the investment now.

“We started from a lower position in regard to debt than other countries, and I believe that, even after all the action we have taken, our debt will still be lower than other countries.”

He said the length of the recession would depend on securing co-ordinated international action.

“If we spend a pound in Britain, it can have twice the effect if other countries are doing the same. So we are trying . . . to get other countries to work with us.

“When President Obama comes in in America, you will see him taking very big action – some of it similar to what we have done, some of it he will be leading the way – and that will be a real boost.”

Business Secretary Lord Mandelson added: “It is vital that we listen to businesses and support them through these difficult times.

“Everyone across central and local government needs to work together.”

JIM HANCOCK: PAGE 9