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| Version 5 | Version 6 |
|---|---|
| Brown vows to work with Salmond | Brown vows to work with Salmond |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Gordon Brown has shaken hands with Alex Salmond for the first time, declaring that he will work with him for Scotland's "prosperity". | Gordon Brown has shaken hands with Alex Salmond for the first time, declaring that he will work with him for Scotland's "prosperity". |
| Scotland's first minister and the prime minister are attending a British-Irish Council meeting at Stormont in Belfast. | Scotland's first minister and the prime minister are attending a British-Irish Council meeting at Stormont in Belfast. |
| It is the first time they have held talks since the two men took on their new roles. | It is the first time they have held talks since the two men took on their new roles. |
| Scottish Executive sources have said they want an "appropriate relationship" with Westminster. | Scottish Executive sources have said they want an "appropriate relationship" with Westminster. |
| Entering the talks, Mr Brown said: "I look forward to working with Mr Salmond for the prosperity of the people of Scotland". | Entering the talks, Mr Brown said: "I look forward to working with Mr Salmond for the prosperity of the people of Scotland". |
| Northern Ireland's first minister Ian Paisley is also at the meeting. | Northern Ireland's first minister Ian Paisley is also at the meeting. |
| Mr Salmond's talks with Mr Brown follow his meeting on Friday with Minister for Justice Jack Straw. | Mr Salmond's talks with Mr Brown follow his meeting on Friday with Minister for Justice Jack Straw. |
| 'Positive agenda' | 'Positive agenda' |
| This has been given as an example of a "co-operative" approach in action. | This has been given as an example of a "co-operative" approach in action. |
| Mr Salmond was also in conciliatory mood, welcoming Mr Brown's presence at the meeting. | Mr Salmond was also in conciliatory mood, welcoming Mr Brown's presence at the meeting. |
| He rejected suggestions that the council was an opportunity for the devolved administrations to combine together to exert pressure on the government in London. | He rejected suggestions that the council was an opportunity for the devolved administrations to combine together to exert pressure on the government in London. |
| Mr Salmond said: "It is how we co-operate as administrations across and around these islands in the interests of the people. I think that is an entirely positive agenda." | Mr Salmond said: "It is how we co-operate as administrations across and around these islands in the interests of the people. I think that is an entirely positive agenda." |
| He has called for greater dialogue between Westminster and the devolved administrations. | He has called for greater dialogue between Westminster and the devolved administrations. |
| Mr Salmond wants the re-establishment of joint ministerial committees, set up in 1999 to encourage co-operation between London and the devolved governments. | Mr Salmond wants the re-establishment of joint ministerial committees, set up in 1999 to encourage co-operation between London and the devolved governments. |
| The plenary joint ministerial committee has not met regularly in the past five years. | The plenary joint ministerial committee has not met regularly in the past five years. |
| Also attending the British-Irish Council was Irish Taoiseach Bertie Ahern. | |
| The council is designed as a forum for talks between Westminster, the devolved UK administrations and Ireland. | The council is designed as a forum for talks between Westminster, the devolved UK administrations and Ireland. |