British Prime Minister Gordon Brown stated that his main focus in 2008 will be addressing the global credit crunch and navigating through the financial instability. He emphasized that the credit issue, originating in the US, is currently the biggest challenge for all economies. Brown expressed confidence in the UK's strong economy as a foundation for stability and declared that he is determined to guide the country through the global financial turmoil. Despite facing challenges such as government mistakes and economic uncertainties, Brown remains committed to his goals for the upcoming year. Northern Rock, a prominent casualty of the credit crisis in Britain, has had to borrow at least 25 billion pounds 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 decreasing consumer confidence. Brown has reassured the public that stability will not be compromised, pledging to maintain low interest rates by controlling inflation. In an effort to address financial market stability, Brown has invited German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy to a meeting in London scheduled for the first half of January. Following a brief period of popularity with voters, Brown's approval ratings quickly declined 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's loss of personal data and secret donations to Labour, have caused embarrassment for Brown. In response to mounting pressure to outline his vision, Brown used his New Year's message to promise significant changes for Britain in 2008. He vowed to introduce new laws that would address issues such as energy, climate change, health, pensions, housing, education, and transport, while also emphasizing the importance of combating global terrorism.