Great Throughts Treasury

This site is dedicated to the memory of Dr. Alan William Smolowe who gave birth to the creation of this database.

Gordon Brown, fully James Gordon Brown

British Labour Party Politician, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom

"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."

"A shopping list of promises that do not and cannot add up."

"A world class economy will need world class education - and that means continuing to reform our schools."

"A year ago some said that the doubling of oil prices would push our inflation far beyond target and that a recession was required to slow the increase in house prices."

"A strong European, a committed internationalist, and a distinguished foreign secretary with friends in every country, he will be mourned greatly not only by his family, friends, colleagues and constituents, but in every continent of the world."

"Agreement has been reached on all the elements... That means this historic process of completing the debt write-off that started many years ago has ended today."

"And in the same way, he deserves credit for leading us through difficult and challenging years, he also deserves credit for... challenging us as a party to begin to plan ahead."

"America knows it has got to deal with its deficit problems so that it, too, can promise it is making its proper and best contributions to the world economy."

"Aid can make the difference between life and death... there is a will to come to an agreement. Much is still to be done."

"And let IMF surveillance, (just as we made the Bank of England independent) become independent of the political process."

"Both internationally in Afghanistan and Iraq and at home we will at all times have the strength and resolution so that there is no hiding place for terrorists, or those who finance terrorism, and so we will protect and defend the security of the people of this country,"

"Because this is, at root, a problem of demand outstripping supply, OPEC must respond at its meeting on 19 September to rising demand by raising production."

"Britain can be proud of its response to the tsunami appeal."

"Asia will surpass Europe in the coming 20 years."

"Britain should be the world's number one center for genetic and stem cell research, building on our world leading regulatory regime in the area."

"Carbon saving can be a way of making money and increasing returns on investment. It makes economic opportunities of a climate-friendly energy policy real and tangible."

"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."

"British people understand very clearly that the source of this problem is a doubling of world oil prices."

"Each year India and China produce four million graduates compared with just over 250,000 in Britain."

"But today, countries like ours will only be able to compete if we move up a gear into the high-tech, the high skilled, the value-added products and processes, the difference between being in a race to the bottom and a race to the top."

"Environmental sustainability is not an option - it is a necessity. For economies to flourish, for global poverty to be banished, for the well-being of the world's people to be enhanced - not just in this generation but in succeeding generations - we have a compelling and ever more urgent duty of stewardship to take care of the natural environment and resources on which our economic activity and social fabric depends... A new paradigm that sees economic growth, social justice and environmental care advancing together can become the common sense of our age."

"Europe and America should go to Hong Kong with a common position that by 2010 we will eliminate export subsidies, we will reduce the tariffs that are being charged and we will open our markets finally to developing countries."

"Europe should now respond positively and enthusiastic to the American offer ... about the elimination of export subsidies and the reduction of tariffs."

"Engineering is not merely knowing and being knowledgeable, like a walking encyclopedia; engineering is not merely analysis; engineering is not merely the possession of the capacity to get elegant solutions to non-existent engineering problems; engineering is practicing the art of the organized forcing of technological change... Engineers operate at the interface between science and society ..."

"Every advanced industrial country knows that falling behind in science and mathematics means falling behind in commerce and prosperity."

"Five million children's lives will be saved between now and 2015, and five million in the 10 years after 2015,"

"For this to happen, developed countries must be prepared to support, with public investment, through grants or loans, developing countries in their efforts."

"Further housing reform will be put in place in the coming year ... reforms that will ensure that a reduced propensity to house price inflation, stability will be further entrenched,"

"For me there is a mission for this country moving forward - there are big long-term decisions we've got to take as a nation."

"Further threat to fragile and slow growth."

"For we can now understand why it was that a man true to his conscience, in circumstances of such controversy, leave government in a way that not only manifested an absence of rancor but won applause, not just from those who agreed with him but those who disagreed with him."

"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."

"He more than anyone fashioned Scotland's old democratic instinct into a modern democratic institution... He was a great man, but he was better than that -- he was a great man and a good man."

"I accept that mistakes have been made."

"I believe the monetary authorities have sought to take action to head off the possibility of higher inflation over the course of the next two years."

"I admired and valued Robin as a colleague and friend and as one of the greatest parliamentarians of our time. His wife Gaynor and his two sons are in our thoughts and prayers. [on the death of Robin Cook]"

"I believe that we are better equipped than we were 10 or 20 years ago to cope with the difficulties we face in the world economy, and the reason we are better equipped in Britain, in the (European) area and in America is that people did take time in the last few years to put us on a better footing."

"I am delighted that Dr. Greenspan has agreed to be honorary adviser. His advice on issues relating to global economic change will be much appreciated."

"I am happy for there to be a leadership contest. I think there should be"

"I confidently expect that all G7 members will now support the sale."

"I believe there is a chance for progress if countries worried about services and market access can make some concessions and America and Europe can look again at agricultural protectionism."

"I believe there is a moral sense and a global ethic that commands attention from people of every religion and every faith, and people of no faith. But I think what's new is that we now have the capacity to communicate instantaneously across frontiers right across the world."

"I don't see politics as one or two people just making or delivering announcements - it's also about winning public support and the public enthusiasm. You've got to win public support."

"I sense a new spirit in Britain: that the people of Britain want this massive demonstration of generosity to be given enduring purpose."

"I don't think anybody should be in any doubt that not only will the reforms continue but in future years they are going to have to be intensified."

"I meet fathers who talk about the issues of child care; some of them are going to parenting classes. But I believe we need this fathers' revolution."

"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."

"I have talked to the Israeli finance ministry and I hope we can make a contribution that will recognize that a strong and fair economy can lower the amount of violence and underpin development,"

"I take full responsibility for what happened. That's why the person who was responsible went immediately. A few days ago they said they want to tear up the 2010 budget, impose deep cuts immediately and accused us of moral cowardice for not doing so. Of course, typically of them, they called for big cuts before they called for small cuts before they called for modest cuts before they called for big cuts yet again. So their biggest claim to be the party of change is that they are the Party that keeps changing their minds."

"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."