Gordon Brown Quotes
February 20, 1951
More Gordon Brown Quotes
My first rule – the golden rule – ensures that over the economic cycle the Government will borrow only to invest, and that current spending will be met from taxation.
Gordon Brown— Hansard, 6 ser, vol 297 col 304 (2 July 1997)
— From the Brown's first Budget speech.
I said that this would be a Budget based on prudence for a purpose and that guides us also in our approach to public spending.
Gordon Brown— Hansard, 6 ser, vol 308 col 111 (17 March 1998)
— From the 1998 Budget speech.
Under this Government, Britain will not return to the boom and bust of the past.
Gordon Brown— Pre-Budget Report, 9th November 1999
David Blunkett and I both take the same view that it is scandalous that someone from North Tyneside, Laura Spence, with the best qualifications and who wants to be a doctor, should be turned down by Oxford University using an interview system more reminiscent of the old school network and the old school tie than justice. It is about time for an end to that old Britain where what matters more are the privileges you are born with, rather than the potential you actually have.
Gordon Brown— Alexandra Frean, John O'Leary, Philip Webster, "Brown goes to war over Oxford elite", The Times, 26 May 2000, p. 1.
— Speech at a Trade Union Congress meeting, 25 May 2000.
Politics seems much less important today. When you see your young daughter smiling as she was, and moving around, it's a superb feeling.
Gordon Brown— Colin Wills, "'This will be a big change in my life .. politics is now less important' says new dad Gordon Brown", Sunday Mirror, 30 December, 2001, p. 4
— Press conference on the birth of his first daughter, Jennifer Jane Brown, 29 December 2001; she died nine days later.
I'm here – but I haven't been given permission to drive.
Gordon Brown— George Pascoe-Watson, "I wannabe No10 pilot", The Sun, 19 May 2006, p. 2
— Response to question by Sky News journalist "Do you like the feeling of being in the driving seat?" when in the Cockpit of an Airbus A380 on 18 May 2006.
I understand that in the UK there have already been 10,000 complaints from viewers about these remarks, which people see, rightly, as offensive. I want Britain to be seen as a country of fairness and tolerance. Anything detracting from this I condemn.
Gordon Brown— Alexa Barcia, Shekhar Bhatia, "C4 bosses under fire in race row", Evening Standard, 17 January 2007, p. 4
— Asked about racist bullying of Bollywood star Shilpa Shetty on Celebrity Big Brother, during a visit to India on 16 January 2007.
I want to lead a government humble enough to know its place – where I will always strive to be – and that is on people's side.
Gordon Brown— "Brown makes pitch to lead Britain", BBC News online, 11 May 2007
— Speech at the launch of his leadership campaign, 11 May 2007.
It is time to train British workers for the British jobs that will be available over the coming few years and to make sure that people who are inactive and unemployed are able to get the new jobs on offer in our country.
Gordon Brown— "Brown pledges 'British workers for British jobs'", Evening Standard, 5 June 2007, p. 1
— Speech to the GMB Union, 5 June 2007
I have just accepted the invitation of Her Majesty The Queen to form a Government. This will be a new Government with new priorities and I have been privileged to have been granted the great opportunity to serve my country and at all times I will be strong in purpose, steadfast in will, resolute in action in the service of what matters to the British people, meeting the concerns and aspirations of our whole country.
Gordon Brown— Statement at Downing Street, 27 June 2007
— Statement outside 10 Downing Street immediately after becoming Prime Minister.
On this day I remember words that have stayed with me since my childhood and which matter a great deal to me today, my school motto: "I will try my outmost". This is my promise to all of the people of Britain and now let the work of change begin.
Gordon Brown— Statement at Downing Street, 27 June 2007
— Statement outside 10 Downing Street immediately after becoming Prime Minister. The motto referred to is an English translation of the Latin Usque conabor. Brown said "outmost", as spelled on the BBC News transcript, but other sources usually give "utmost".
Good strong banks are essential for every family and for every business in the country and extraordinary times call for the bold and far-reaching solutions that the Treasury has announced today.
Gordon Brown— Press Conference, 8 October 2008, announcing the policy of buying shares in banks in order to prevent the spread of the financial crisis.
The calendar says we are half way from 2000 to 2015.But the reality is that we are we are a million miles away from success.
Gordon Brown— Speechat the New York UN headquarters in July 2007
56,000 companies have already benefited from the schemes that we have brought in. If we have taken the advice of the Conservative Party, no money would have been used. As Barack Obama said only yesterday, doing nothing is not an option.
Gordon Brown— Prime Minister's Questions, 11 February 2008 YouTube video
I take full responsibility for what happened. That's why the person who was responsible went immediately.
Gordon Brown— On the Damian McBride email scandal reported by The Daily Telegraph
— "Brown 'sorry' over e-mail slurs", BBC News, 16 April 2009
I agree with Nick.
Gordon Brown— First Leaders' Debate, showing his apparent approval for Nick Clegg and his policies, 15 April 2010.
There is nothing that you could say to me now that I could ever believe.
Gordon Brown— Melissa Kite, "Revealed: Brown's furious response to Blair after PM reneged on his promises to quit last year", Sunday Telegraph, 9 January 2005, p. 1
— According to Brown's biographer Robert Peston, Brown made this remark to Tony Blair in October 2004 when Blair announced his intention to fight for a third term of government, after telling Brown he intended to stand down.
The next election will be a flyweight versus a heavyweight. However much the right hon. Gentleman (David Cameron) may dance around the ring beforehand, at some point, he will come within the reach of a big clunking fist.
Gordon Brown— Hansard, House of Commons, 6th series, vol. 453, col. 29 (15 November 2006)
— Tony Blair, speaking in the House of Commons; the term 'big clunking fist' was taken as a reference to Brown.
The House has noticed the Prime Minister's remarkable transformation in the past few weeks, from Stalin to Mr. Bean.
Gordon Brown— Hansard, House of Commons, 6th series, vol. 468, col. 275 (28 November 2007)
— Vincent Cable, acting leader of the Liberal Democrats.
Luckily for the world economy, however, Gordon Brown and his officials are making sense. And they may have shown us the way through this crisis.
Gordon Brown— "Gordon Does Good", New York Times, 12 October 2008
— Paul Krugman, winner of the 2008 Prize in memory of Alfred Nobel for Economics
Our new economic approach is rooted in ideas which stress the importance of macro-economics, post neo-classical endogenous growth theory and the symbiotic relationships between growth and investment, and people and infrastructure.
Gordon Brown— Michael White, "The gift of tired tongues", The Guardian, 30 September 1994; Norman Macrae, "You've never had it so incoherent", Sunday Times, 2 October 1994.
— Speech at an economic seminar, Tuesday 27 September 1994.
