Brown warms to time switch

GORDON Brown is considering moving the clocks forward an hour to extend summer evenings in a move which could give the tourism industry a multi-billion pound boost.

The Prime Minister says it could have “real benefits” for the economy and admits he is “thinking carefully” about the switch which could be worth 3.5bn a year to tourism businesses, according to experts.

Campaigners claim lighter evenings could also cut the number of injuries and deaths on the roads, and opposition to the move from Scotland is thought to be softening.

The change, which the Tories have also been considering, would see clocks put forward by an hour throughout the year, so the winter would be GMT+1 hour and the summer GMT+2.

Culture Secretary Ben Bradshaw is also pressing the Government to make the move. “It is an absolute no-brainer,” he said.