UK's existence is at risk - Brown

[ziggysego]

The identity of the United Kingdom is threatened by an "opportunist group of nationalists", Gordon Brown has warned.

The chancellor told the Fabian Society that some groups were "playing fast and loose" with the union of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

He said the UK was a country "built on shared values" which served as a "model for the rest of the world".

SNP leader Alex Salmond said Mr Brown was thinking only of his "self-interest as a prime minister designate".

Mr Brown, a Scot who is MP for Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath, is expected to take over as prime minister later this year.

Talking to former Labour MP Oona King at the start of the Labour think-tank's conference, Mr Brown stressed the importance of the country's shared values.

"It is very important to recognise that Britishness and Britain itself is not based on ethnicity and race," he said.

"It is founded on shared values that we hold in common: a commitment to liberty for all, a commitment to social responsibility shown by all, and a commitment to fairness to all."

He said there was now a dividing line in Britain which pitted "those of us who are prepared to support the shared values of the union" against "those who are prepared to play fast and loose with the union and put the whole future of the union at risk".

English issues

This year is the 300th anniversary of the Act of Union that merged the English and Scottish parliaments.

The pro-independence Scottish National Party is tipped to do well in the Scottish Parliament elections in May, with the independence debate likely to crop up often in the campaign. 

SNP leader Mr Salmond said the chancellor "could not tolerate the idea of Scotland slipping out of Labour's control just at the point he wants to move into No 10".

"Revealingly, Mr Brown is unable to accept that, under his chancellorship, the Scottish economy has lagged behind both the UK and spectacularly, the small independent countries in Europe."

The Conservatives have suggested for some time now that it might be better if exclusively English laws were voted on by English MPs alone.

But Mr Brown said the idea of "English votes for English laws" would pull the union apart.

'Faustian bargain'

During a wide-ranging address to the Fabians, Mr Brown pledged support for the idea of raising the school-leaving age to 18.

And he told delegates that terrorism and security issues could not be solved through military means alone.

Earlier, he had written an article in the Daily Telegraph where he criticised the Conservatives for siding with the nationalists over constitutional issues.

In it he warned: "It is now time for supporters of the union to speak up, to resist any drift towards a Balkanisation of Britain and to acknowledge Great Britain for the success it has been and is."

He attacked today's Conservatives for embracing "anti-unionist positions" in collusion with nationalists - contrasting them with Lady Thatcher's determined support for the union.

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Menzies Campbell said the chancellor was right to highlight the "Faustian bargain" between the nationalists and the Tories.

"They may have different motives but their actions will jointly lead to the same conclusion - the break-up of the union," he said.

But shadow Scotland secretary David Mundell said the chancellor should be judged by his actions, not his words.

"He is undermining Britishness with his support for English regionalisation, identity cards and the European constitution."

Sourced BBCi: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6258089.stm

[armaghniac]

UK's existence is at risk - always good to hear some good news in these dark January days!

[Gaoth Dobhair Abu]

Shared values - equality???
Only if your English!!!   

[bignifanatic]

We in Northern Ireland are an integral part of the union and we will stay that way regardless if you like it or not. the fact remains that all the scaremongering and posturing from Sinn Fein means absolutely nothing and the Empire will not change one iota in the long term, especially so close to home.So dream on boys and girls. You will never live to see a United ireland, it simply wont happen, my thought is over the coming decades we will see the status quo remain intact and I delighted about it.

[AZOffaly]

I don't usually get in on these threads but ......

the Empire

Classic 

[magickingdom]

"It is founded on shared values that we hold in common: a commitment to liberty for all, a commitment to social responsibility shown by all, and a commitment to fairness to all."

thought there was a bit more to it than that......


"we in northern ireland are an internal part of the union blah blah"

bignifan, in a few months when martin mcguinness is back in charge of education your 4 year olds might be reading from a different script.... dream on yourself

[Gaoth Dobhair Abu]

bignifan, in a few months when martin mcguinness is back in charge of education your 4 year olds might be reading from a different script....


Aye as gaeilge!!!!   

[Fiodoir Ard Mhacha]

According to British government papers released recently from 1956, the then French PM had recommended France merge with Britain, with Lily Von Windsor as Head of State.

Whether we like it or not, we could now have been now part of a Royaume-Uni!

[Bord na Mona man]

According to British government papers released recently from 1956, the then French PM had recommended France merge with Britain, with Lily Von Windsor as Head of State.

Whether we like it or not, we could now have been now part of a Royaume-Uni!

Or even more telling are the 30 year old British government paper that have released in recent years. The have been itching to dump Northern Ireland off their hands for years.

[Fiodoir Ard Mhacha]

Disappointing that Gordy is presenting himself of late as a super Brit / PM in waiting.

Especially when Blair will probably still shaft him in the end and Johnny Reid will be crowned British Taoiseach.

[Fr Ted]

Quote 'Empire'

It's not fecking star wars

[lynchbhoy]

Its always been England first.
Uniteg kingdom of England and the other bit players
Great Britain of England and those other statelets - that the English either despise or are completely apathetic about

Everying is England centric. When English people are talking about UK or GB - they actually mean England.
Or so it was when I lived there as a kid.
People barely acknowledged Scotland, wales or NI.

I dont think there will be much of a break up - as only scotland actually has a majority to leave the union.
NI are approx 50% to stay/leave - though most Brits (English) would jettison them in a heartbeat
and wales - is like englands pet.

[armaghniac]

The point is that the Union is not delivering benefits to Scotland. NI is kept in by the prejudice of union supporters towards the natives, which has hardly been helped by the events of the last 40 years, and a big subvention. If things are peaceful and people are working together the type of issues that lead to discontent in Scotland will also become more important in NI.

[aontroim abu]

bignifan, in a few months when martin mcguinness is back in charge of education your 4 year olds might be reading from a different script....


Aye as gaeilge!!!!   

reminds me of that joke about linfield beating glentoran 2-11 to 1-8 in the cup final

[ziggysego]

We in Northern Ireland are an integral part of the union and we will stay that way regardless if you like it or not. the fact remains that all the scaremongering and posturing from Sinn Fein means absolutely nothing and the Empire will not change one iota in the long term, especially so close to home.So dream on boys and girls. You will never live to see a United ireland, it simply wont happen, my thought is over the coming decades we will see the status quo remain intact and I delighted about it.

This article has nothing to do with Sinn Fein. Sinn Fein had absoluately no influence in Gordon Brown's thinking. Why did you try and turn this into an anti Sinn Fein thread. Bloodly blinkers, reading what you want to see.