US relations will not change, pledges Brown

Gordon Brown has sought to reassure the Bush administration that he will not depart from Tony Blair's approach by distancing himself from the United States.

At his first regular Downing Street press conference, the Prime Minister even spoke of forging a stronger link between the two countries, describing it as "our strongest bilateral relationship". He said: "I believe the relationships between a British prime minister and an American president will be as strong, should be strong, and I believe will be strengthened in the months and years to come."

Mr Brown, who confirmed that he will visit the US shortly for talks with President George Bush, moved to dispel fears in Washington that he would adopt an arm's length approach sparked by comments by two of his ministers. Lord Malloch Brown, the Foreign Office minister and a critic of the Bush administration while UN deputy secretary general, said the President and Prime Minister would no longer be "joined at the hip", while Douglas Alexander, the International Development Secretary, speaking in Washington, praised the virtues of "soft power", multilateralism and international rules.

The Prime Minister refused to rule out military action against Iran over its nuclear programme but made clear his preference for sanctions, which he said were working and predicted would be strengthened by a new UN resolution. Mr Brown insisted he was a "pro-European" rather than a Eurosceptic but said joining the single currency was not on the Government's agenda. "We are not proposing to hold an assessment or join the euro at this stage," he said. He urged the EU to adopt economic reforms and be open and outward-looking rather than "stuck in an old groove".

The Prime Minister said he would make a Commons statement tomorrow on proposed anti-terrorist laws that would will include a push to isolate extremists among British Muslims.

"We've got to convince those young people to support moderate and mainstream positions," he said. He will step up security while pursuing a campaign to win the "hearts and minds" of young Muslim men. "The number of people we are having to track is at a high number," he said. "The question for us is how we can separate those extremists from the moderate mainstream majority."

Mr Brown, who has changed the Blair government's policy on supercasinos and the classification of cannabis, declined to follow suit by calling time on 24-hour licensing. But he could order a rethink following a review of its impact by the Home Office which reports later this year.

Refusing to be drawn on speculation that he might call an early election, Mr Brown said he was enjoying his new job. "There's a new challenge every day," he said. He added: "My interest is in pursuing an agenda for change in this country and responding to the rising aspirations of the British people. So while it may be a pastime for people to talk about polls, what's on my mind is how we can make the country stronger, better and fairer."