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Healthcare top priority for Brown Brown targets schools and health
(about 4 hours later)
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. Gordon Brown has said education and healthcare are his top domestic priorities, as he continues his bid to become the next Labour leader.
"We've got to do far more" to improve access with walk-in centres, electronic prescriptions, GP hours and NHS Direct, the chancellor told the BBC. The chancellor said he wanted "fairness and opportunity for all" in the UK, and for the health service to become "the envy of the world".
He is to spend his second day of campaigning with visits to marginal seats in Kent. Mr Brown is spending his second day on the campaign trail with visits to marginal seats in Kent.
Mr Brown is so far unchallenged in his bid to succeed Tony Blair as leader. He is so far unchallenged in his bid to succeed Tony Blair as leader.
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? 'Immediate priority'
"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 Brown, speaking at Sunlight Community Centre in Gillingham, Kent, said: "My vision for the future of this country is that we have an even stronger economy, an even stronger society with a higher quality of life."
"It is an immediate priority." He added: "It has been a privilege to serve under Tony Blair's leadership as prime minister of this country."
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. What I want for my children I want for every child, to get the best education and the best healthcare Gordon Brown
"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." He referred to his own experience of the NHS, when he was injured playing rugby and doctors saved his eyesight.
"What I want for my children I want for every child, to get the best education and the best healthcare," he said.
Mr Brown said there was a need for electronic prescriptions, the availability of blood pressure checks at pharmacies, and walk-in clinics.
The chancellor said: "I see us building up the NHS and making it a great British institution and making it the envy of the world."
Earlier, he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that listening to people's views on the future of the healthcare system was an "immediate priority".
'Unconvincing rhetoric'
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.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.
Shadow Health Secretary Andrew Lansley questioned Mr Brown's history as chancellor when it came to NHS improvements.Shadow Health Secretary Andrew Lansley questioned Mr Brown's history as chancellor when it came to NHS improvements.
"Gordon Brown is responsible for Labour's financial mismanagement of the NHS. He failed to make the NHS a priority during his 10 years as chancellor and his rhetoric today is unconvincing," he said."Gordon Brown is responsible for Labour's financial mismanagement of the NHS. He failed to make the NHS a priority during his 10 years as chancellor and his rhetoric today is unconvincing," he said.
"The truth is that Gordon Brown is part of the past, not part of the future. It is the same old Labour, same old spin.""The truth is that Gordon Brown is part of the past, not part of the future. It is the same old Labour, same old spin."
Iraq assessmentIraq 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.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.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."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 commentsHAVE 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.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. He said military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan had cost about £6bn.
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.
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 them will challenge Mr Brown, insisting that between them they can muster the support needed for one 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.
He will also be in East Sussex for the Brighton Festival.
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.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.
Meanwhile, former US President Bill Clinton has described the leadership hopeful as "brilliant" and "authentic".Meanwhile, former US President Bill Clinton has described the leadership hopeful as "brilliant" and "authentic".
Mr Clinton said they were attributes which "carried their own charisma".Mr Clinton said they were attributes which "carried their own charisma".