Prime Minister Gordon Brown speaks to conference
Speaking at Scottish Labour Party conference today, Gordon Brown said:
"I believe in a Scotland where everyone should have the chance to rise as far as their talents can take them, where the talents of each of us should contribute to the wellbeing of all.
"We used to talk about the arms race.
"Now we have a skills race around the world.
"That is why the message that we have always believed in - that social justice is about everybody having the opportunity to make the most of their lives - is the message for the future of our economy as well.
"We will be the front line of defence for young people that need that help to get the qualifications.
"And we will stand up against the SNP not only because their policy is wrong but because they are depriving people of the best chance of a future for Scotland in this new global economy.
"We will take the right action on behalf of the British people.
"We have taken actions that make us better prepared than in the past.
"What we have done in the last year is cut inflation so that we are in a position to cut interest rates as we have done on two occasions where it's not been possible in the rest of Europe.
"It was because Britain came together as one and because of the strength and the power and the size of Britain that we were chairman of the G8. It couldn't have happened if it was just one of the constituents.
"Co-operation is the only way forward for the future."
On the economy, Gordon Brown said:
"Every time we have been tested over the past ten years – from the Asian crisis to the Russian crisis and the dot.com crisis – we have taken the right decisions to maintain the stability of the British economy.
“We will always be vigilant, and in the face of this latest financial turbulence, we will continue to take the right decisions on behalf of the British people.
“And it is because of the action we have already taken that we are better prepared than we have been in the past, more resilient and more able to weather this global uncertainty.
“It is because of the action we took to tackle inflation last year that we have been able to cut interest rates twice in recent months.
“It is because over the past ten years we have cut debt that we are able this year to allow public spending to continue to rise.
“We will not be in the position of the last Conservative government when they faced a global economic downturn, with inflation at 10%, interest rates at 15%, and a debt position which forced them to cut spending and raise taxes with VAT on fuel and power.
“In contrast, because of the decisions we have made and because of our vigilance, interest rates have been cut and public spending continues to rise.
“And as well as maintaining that vigilance, I will work with world leaders so that there is greater disclosure and transparency in financial markets, and so the decisions we need to take on the standards to govern financial companies in the future are taken as quickly as possible.
“What sense does it make in this island to create new barriers, as the SNP would do, new barriers that would distance Scotland from the rest of Britain?"
Mr Brown concluded: "I think not just of what we have achieved together and what we are doing together. I think of what we could achieve together for the future.
"The union does not diminish our influence. The union enhances the influence of Scottish people and Scottish ideas.
"We are ready to make the changes that matter. We can build a better Scotland and a better
Britain.
"Let's do it by working together."
"I believe in a Scotland where everyone should have the chance to rise as far as their talents can take them, where the talents of each of us should contribute to the wellbeing of all.
"We used to talk about the arms race.
"Now we have a skills race around the world.
"That is why the message that we have always believed in - that social justice is about everybody having the opportunity to make the most of their lives - is the message for the future of our economy as well.
"We will be the front line of defence for young people that need that help to get the qualifications.
"And we will stand up against the SNP not only because their policy is wrong but because they are depriving people of the best chance of a future for Scotland in this new global economy.
"We will take the right action on behalf of the British people.
"We have taken actions that make us better prepared than in the past.
"What we have done in the last year is cut inflation so that we are in a position to cut interest rates as we have done on two occasions where it's not been possible in the rest of Europe.
"It was because Britain came together as one and because of the strength and the power and the size of Britain that we were chairman of the G8. It couldn't have happened if it was just one of the constituents.
"Co-operation is the only way forward for the future."
On the economy, Gordon Brown said:
"Every time we have been tested over the past ten years – from the Asian crisis to the Russian crisis and the dot.com crisis – we have taken the right decisions to maintain the stability of the British economy.
“We will always be vigilant, and in the face of this latest financial turbulence, we will continue to take the right decisions on behalf of the British people.
“And it is because of the action we have already taken that we are better prepared than we have been in the past, more resilient and more able to weather this global uncertainty.
“It is because of the action we took to tackle inflation last year that we have been able to cut interest rates twice in recent months.
“It is because over the past ten years we have cut debt that we are able this year to allow public spending to continue to rise.
“We will not be in the position of the last Conservative government when they faced a global economic downturn, with inflation at 10%, interest rates at 15%, and a debt position which forced them to cut spending and raise taxes with VAT on fuel and power.
“In contrast, because of the decisions we have made and because of our vigilance, interest rates have been cut and public spending continues to rise.
“And as well as maintaining that vigilance, I will work with world leaders so that there is greater disclosure and transparency in financial markets, and so the decisions we need to take on the standards to govern financial companies in the future are taken as quickly as possible.
“What sense does it make in this island to create new barriers, as the SNP would do, new barriers that would distance Scotland from the rest of Britain?"
Mr Brown concluded: "I think not just of what we have achieved together and what we are doing together. I think of what we could achieve together for the future.
"The union does not diminish our influence. The union enhances the influence of Scottish people and Scottish ideas.
"We are ready to make the changes that matter. We can build a better Scotland and a better
Britain.
"Let's do it by working together."