Brown urges Europe to copy bail-out

Prime minister Gordon Brown has urged EU leaders to copy Britain's plan to tackle the crisis in the banking system.

Ahead of a summit in Paris, Brown insisted that only co-ordinated international action modelled on his £500bn bail-out of the banks could begin to tackle the problem.

The US has already adopted a similar plan, which will see the British government take significant stakes in banks and guarantee lending between them.

Writing in the Sunday Mirror, Brown said: "No country - not even the biggest - can make it just on their own at a time like this.

"We are all in it together and have to work to solve it together."

Brown described the rescue package as a "comprehensive approach", and said that "for Europe, the stakes could not be higher and this is a moment of truth".

He went on: "I've seen in the cities and towns I've visited a calm, determined British spirit; that, while this is a world financial crisis that has started from America, Britain will lead the way in pulling through.

"And I know that we will come together as a country and emerge a fairer and more successful nation than ever before.

"Together, we can win the fight for Britain's future," he said, echoing the Labour Party's slogan.

Brown was invited to attend the meeting of eurozone leaders in light of the crisis - despite Britain not being a part of the single currency.