Describing India as a new technology and economic power, Prime Minister Tony Blair on Tuesday told his cabinet colleagues to focus on Britain's future.
"We have to secure Britain's future in a world of rapid change driven by globalisation, new technology and new economic powers such as China and India. My recent visits to China and India have brought home even further the magnitude of the global challenge we face," he told the cabinet.
"Faced with the opportunities and insecurities the future brings, our new Labour government must manage this change and not turn our face against it. We must equip our people for the future in a way that is driven by Labour values, managed for the benefit of everyone, not just a few," he said.
"Resisting change as some have advocated recently will only let the country down and lead to a more unfair and unjust society. The Tories 'laissez faire' approach will leave the hard-working majority vulnerable and ill-equipped."
He said the autumn would see a raft of policy papers setting out detailed reforms in schools, care outside hospitals, the Respect agenda and welfare reform to take forward the manifesto commitments.
© 2026