Prime Minister Gordon Brown has said he is the right man to steer the country through difficult economic times.

He blamed "international factors" for rising oil and food prices and housing market problems and said he was taking the right action to deal with them.

Asked if he should stay in his job he said: "There are many people who could take over but I think I can steer this economy through difficult times...I have done it before and I can do it again,".

Speaking later at his monthly Downing Street press conference Mr Brown said he had a record of handling the economy competently. "I feel that I am in the right position to be able to sort out the problems that we have

In an effort to reassure the public he stated "We will not hesitate to take whatever action is necessary to take the British economy through difficult times."

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