British Prime Minister Gordon Brown stated that his main focus for 2008 will be addressing the global credit crunch and navigating through the financial instability. He emphasized that the credit issue originating in the United States is now the primary challenge for all economies, making it the top priority. Brown expressed confidence in the strength of the economy as a solid foundation, and vowed to steer a stable course through the turbulent global financial situation in the coming year. Despite facing challenges such as government mistakes and economic uncertainties, Brown remains determined to lead the country through these difficult times. Northern Rock, a prominent casualty of the credit crisis in Britain, has been forced to borrow at least 25 billion pounds ($50 billion) from the Bank of England. Prime Minister Brown and finance minister Alistair Darling have faced criticism for their handling of the crisis, but Brown remains confident that the economy will stay on track. Despite solid growth since Brown's Labour Party took office in 1997, concerns have been raised about a potential slowdown next year due to falling house prices and declining consumer confidence. Brown has assured that stability will not be compromised and has pledged to maintain low interest rates by keeping inflation in check. He has also arranged a meeting in January with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy to discuss financial market stability. Brown's popularity declined after an initial period of favor with voters, and Labour is currently trailing behind the opposition Conservatives by as much as 13 points in opinion polls. Recent scandals, such as the tax agency losing personal data and secret donations to Labour, have caused embarrassment for Brown. In response to pressure to outline his vision, Brown promised in his New Year's message that 2008 would be a year of significant changes for Britain, with new laws focusing on energy, climate change, health, pensions, housing, education, and transport. He also emphasized the importance of continuing efforts to combat global terrorism.