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Brown to reveal healthcare vision Brown to reveal healthcare vision
(about 1 hour later)
Gordon Brown has said he will make access to healthcare a domestic priority as he continues his bid to become the next Labour leader. Gordon Brown has said he will make access to healthcare an "immediate" domestic priority as he continues his bid to become the next Labour leader.
He is to outline his vision for the NHS during a tour of marginal seats on the second day of his campaign. He is to outline his vision for the NHS during a tour of marginal seats in Kent on the second day of his campaign.
The chancellor said "we've got to do far more" with walk-in centres, electronic prescriptions, GP hours and NHS Direct to improve access. The chancellor said "we've got to do far more" to improve access with walk-in centres, electronic prescriptions, GP hours and NHS Direct.
He plans to tour the country to listen to patients and staff. Mr Brown is so far unchallenged in his bid to succeed Tony Blair as leader.
Launching his campaign on Friday, Mr Brown said he had the "new ideas and vision" to govern Britain. It is an immediate priority Gordon Brown class="" href="/1/hi/uk_politics/5238202.stm">Profile: Gordon Brown class="" href="/1/hi/uk_politics/6615303.stm">What will he do as PM?
Meanwhile, former US President Bill Clinton has described the leadership hopeful as "brilliant" and "authentic". "I am going to be going round the country in the next few weeks and months listening to what the patients tell me, listening to what the staff tell me, listening to what people say about the future of the healthcare system and what they want as patients and they want as staff," Mr Brown told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.
Mr Clinton said they were attributes which "carried their own charisma". "It is an immediate priority."
My task is to show I have the new ideas, the vision and the experience to earn the trust of the British people Gordon Brown class="" href="/1/hi/uk_politics/5238202.stm">Profile: Gordon Brown class="" href="/1/hi/uk_politics/6615303.stm">What will he do as PM? He emphasised that politics was about "serving the needs of people in the circumstances in which they find themselves", and added that expectations of healthcare were far higher than they were 10 years ago and would continue to rise.
"If I can show that how at weekends and outside the normal hours people can have more access to the health services that they need, millions using Health Service Direct, millions using walk-in centres, more access to GPs, then I believe that is what politics is actually about."
Despite record investment in the NHS, the Conservatives were ahead of Labour in polls - which showed "we will - and have to - do better," Mr Brown said.
Iraq assessment
A day after launching his campaign by saying he had the "new ideas and vision" to govern Britain, Mr Brown also spoke of other policy areas.
He said he would be visiting Iraq again soon to "make my own assessment of the situation," but refused to outline any timetable for withdrawing British troops.
"I don't think at this stage you pre-set a date," he said. HAVE YOUR SAY I feel like Brown has been snuck in through the back door Luke Frost, Sunderland Send us your comments
British troops were moving to an "advisory position" as the emphasis shifted from security and military to political and economic development.
He said military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan had cost about £6 billion.
Mr Brown is the firm favourite to succeed Mr Blair when he quits on 27 June.Mr Brown is the firm favourite to succeed Mr Blair when he quits on 27 June.
He is to reinforce his leadership credentials in south-east England, where his electoral appeal is weakest.
On a tour of marginal constituencies in Kent, he is expected to pledge more walk-in centres and longer opening hours for GPs surgeries, the BBC's political correspondent Robin Brant said.
Increasing the use of electronic prescriptions is also expected to be on his agenda.
On Sunday Mr Brown will hold his first policy debate with his two party rivals - Michael Meacher and John McDonnell.On Sunday Mr Brown will hold his first policy debate with his two party rivals - Michael Meacher and John McDonnell.
The pair are yet to decide which of the two will challenge Mr Brown, insisting that between them they can muster the support needed for one of them to go forward as a candidate. The pair are yet to decide which of them will challenge Mr Brown, insisting that between them they can muster the support needed for one to go forward as a candidate.
HAVE YOUR SAY I feel like Brown has been snuck in through the back door Luke Frost, Sunderland class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?threadID=6278&edition=2&ttl=20070510223503">Send us your comments Mr Brown could still face a challenge from one of the two left-wing backbenchers, but there appears to be a coordinated effort among Labour MPs to unite behind him, with Blairite MPs Stephen Byers and Alan Milburn also expected to back him.
Launching his campaign at the Imagination Gallery in central London on Friday, Mr Brown praised Tony Blair and said he wanted to make the UK "one of the great success stories of the new century". Meanwhile, former US President Bill Clinton has described the leadership hopeful as "brilliant" and "authentic".
Mr Blair earlier endorsed Mr Brown's bid to succeed him as prime minister, saying "he has what it takes". Mr Clinton said they were attributes which "carried their own charisma".
Mr Brown said Mr Blair "has led our country for ten years with distinction - with courage, passion and insight".
But he added: "In the weeks and months ahead, my task is to show I have the new ideas, the vision and the experience to earn the trust of the British people."
He could still face a challenge from one of the two left-wing backbenchers but there appears to be a coordinated effort among Labour MPs to unite behind him, with Blairite MPs Stephen Byers and Alan Milburn also expected to back him.