PM's tour 'to hear economy woes'

Mr Brown said he wanted to listen to people's concerns about the downturn

Gordon Brown is expected to begin a three-day tour of England and Wales later, which will include a cabinet meeting in the North West.

He aims to show he is heeding concerns about the likely recession, by touring areas hit by unemployment in the 1980s.

The PM has made several regional trips recently, including to cabinet meetings in Leeds and Birmingham.

The Conservatives have stepped up attacks on Mr Brown's handling of what they call "Labour's debt crisis".

Party leader David Cameron called the government's