Brown: 'Clear common sense' for Scotland to stay in UK
The former prime minister Gordon Brown has said there is "a clear common sense" argument for Scotland to remain part of the United Kingdom, after launching Labour's pro-union campaign.
Addressing a rally in Glasgow, Mr Brown said that Scottish values can best be realised as part of the UK and that Britain is strongest when pooling its resources together, citing the examples of the NHS, mining, shipbuilding and other core industries.
But Scottish nationalists have dismissed his claim that taxes would have to rise to fund its welfare plans if the country was granted independence.
Gordon Brown was prime minister between 2007 and 2010. Credit: PA
Former prime minister Gordon Brown will speak today at the launch of a distinct Labour campaign to keep Scotland in the United Kingdom.
The Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath MP will be in Glasgow to help unveil the United with Labour drive, which distances the party from Tory and Liberal Democrat colleagues in the pro-Union Better Together movement.
Scottish party leader Johann Lamont and her deputy, the MP Anas Sarwar, will also take part in setting out a "different view" of Scotland's future at the event in the Emirates Arena.
Former Prime Ministers at Margaret Thatcher's funeral
Former Prime Ministers at Margaret Thatcher's funeral. Credit: Christopher Furlong/WPA Rota/Press Association Images
Former Prime Ministers and their spouses at Baroness Thatcher's funeral Gordon Brown, Tony Blair, Norma Major, John Major, Samantha Cameron and Prime Minister David Cameron.
UN Special Envoy for Global Education Gordon Brown said today is a "great day" for Malala Yousafzai.
Mr Brown said in a statement:
This is a great day for Malala, for her family - and for the cause of education worldwide.
By her courage, Malala shows that nothing - not even bullets, intimidation or death threats - can stand in the way of the right of every girl to an education.
I wish Malala and her family well as her courageous recovery continues.
David Cameron says all those who alleged that the Conservatives "did a deal" with Murdoch papers -including the former Prime Minister Gordon Brown - should now acknowledge they were wrong.
Former Prime Minister Gordon Brown, who is in Pakistan today, met two of Malala's friends who were injured in the attack and said there was now a real momentum for change in the country
I believe that in Pakistan, the silent majority is speaking and that there is now a national consensus that the country can delay no longer in ensuring girls and boys have schools to go to and teachers to teach them.
This has been a breakthrough moment for Pakistan and now we must turn Pakistan's new ambitions and popular determination into delivery on the ground.
Former British Prime Minister Gordon Brown. Credit: Reuters/Stephen Hird
Former British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has declared Saturday as 'Malala Day' in his role as UN Special Envoy for Global Education.
The ‘day of action’ coincides with his trip to Pakistan to deliver a petition containing more than one million signatures to President Asif Ali Zardari, urging him to "make education a reality for all Pakistani children, irrespective of gender".
Former Prime Minister Gordon Brown has visited the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham where Malala Yousafzai, the Pakistani schoolgirl who was shot by a Taliban gunman three weeks ago, is being treated.
Mr Brown, who is UN Special Envoy for Global Education, recently said he would be visiting Pakistan next month to speak with President Asif Ali Zardari about Malala's cause of education for girls.
