Brown sees UK in Europe's mainstream

The prime minister has called for European action to fight the recession.

In an article in the Financial Times, Gordon Brown says that the furore over MPs' conduct should not make British politicians "lose sight" of their essential work to tackle issues such as the economy.

"We will continue to bring forward proposals to clean up our political system in the days and weeks ahead," he says.

"But while we must continue to reform how we conduct our politics, we should also not lose sight of what politicians have been elected to do – address the everyday concerns of those who elected us."

He warns that economic decline in Europe is the biggest challenge and proposes reforms to the European Investment Bank.

"Just as we mobilised the resources of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank at the G20, we now need to do more to mobilise the resources of the European Investment Bank and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, as well as those of the EU itself," wrote the prime minister.

"We must also do more to help eastern European economies facing special difficulties."

Ahead of the European elections, Brown also issued a coded warning against supporting parties with eurosceptic agendas.

"With a strong commitment to work with our European partners to confront these economic challenges, we can lay the groundwork for a European recovery," he said.

"That is why Britain must remain a nation in Europe's mainstream and not in its slipstream."