British Prime Minister Gordon Brown on Tuesday pitched for India becoming not only a member of an expanded United Nations Security Council but also the G-8, a powerful club of rich countries.

"I believe, the Security Council without India cannot be a Security Council reflecting the reality of the day and as regards G-8, we need India in this as it is one of the fastest growing economies," Brown told the annual luncheon of the Labour Friends of India.

Most of his Cabinet members, including Secretary of State for Justice Jack Straw and Minister for Olympics [Images] Tessa Jowell, as also Lord Swraj Paul, British Ambassador for Overseas Business; London [Images] Mayor Ken Livingstone, Acting Indian High Commissioner Asoke Mukerji; and veteran Labour leader Lord Neil Kinnock were present at the luncheon held at the Washington Mayfairs, owned by NRI entrepreneur Joginder Sanger.

The prime minister also presented the Fenner Brockway medal, commemorating a man who was born in colonial India in 1888 and later dedicated his life to campaigning for the independence of India from British rule, to Lord Neil Kinnock, chairman, British Council.