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Brown seeks cross-border appeal | |
(about 4 hours later) | |
Chancellor Gordon Brown has told the Labour Party Conference that he is proud to be Scottish and British. | |
In his speech in Manchester, he said that shared British values were critical to economic and social success. | |
Earlier, Mr Brown told the BBC that Scotland would not lose out through his drive to appeal to Middle England. | |
The chancellor insisted his policies and ideas would benefit people across the whole of the UK. | |
'Shared purpose' | |
During his conference speech, he told delegates: "When I'm in Scotland some people say it's just to defeat today's Scottish nationalists, but I've spent all my political life defending the unity of Great Britain against narrow nationalism. | |
"When I'm in England some people say I talk about Britishness because I'm now embarrassed about being Scottish. | |
"Let me say I am proud to be Scottish and British." | |
Mr Brown said "valuing our shared purpose as a country" was as critical in this century as it was in the last "when we defeated fascism and built the NHS". | |
I don't romanticise my upbringing. But my parents were more than an influence Chancellor Gordon Brown | |
The chancellor's speech to the Labour conference was billed as the biggest of his career. | |
Earlier, Mr Brown told BBC Radio's Good Morning Scotland programme: "I'm proud to be Scottish and I'm proud to be part of Britain. | |
"And the important thing to recognise is that the policies I have pursued as chancellor since 1997 have been good for Scotland and good for the whole of the United Kingdom." | "And the important thing to recognise is that the policies I have pursued as chancellor since 1997 have been good for Scotland and good for the whole of the United Kingdom." |
He cited low interest rates and employment, and higher investment in health and education. | He cited low interest rates and employment, and higher investment in health and education. |
Fife roots | |
"Of course there's a lot more to do - but the idea these policies have not made a difference to Scotland in making us better off, which some people try to perpetrate, is completely wrong," said Mr Brown. | "Of course there's a lot more to do - but the idea these policies have not made a difference to Scotland in making us better off, which some people try to perpetrate, is completely wrong," said Mr Brown. |
During his speech he spoke about the influence his parents had on his values during his upbringing in Kirkcaldy, Fife. | |
Mr Brown said his father, a church minister, had taught him to put others first while his mother had told her sons to use whatever talents they had. | |
He added: "I don't romanticise my upbringing. But my parents were more than an influence." |