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Brown pledge to cut state control Brown pledge to cut state control
(20 minutes later)
Gordon Brown has said he has learned his lesson about "top-down" government and has pledged to involve ordinary people in his decisions.Gordon Brown has said he has learned his lesson about "top-down" government and has pledged to involve ordinary people in his decisions.
He told BBC News the public needed to be fully involved if big challenges like climate change were to be tackled.He told BBC News the public needed to be fully involved if big challenges like climate change were to be tackled.
He also agreed that tax as a percentage of national income had risen under Labour, but said people supported the decision to increase NHS funding.He also agreed that tax as a percentage of national income had risen under Labour, but said people supported the decision to increase NHS funding.
The Tories have accused Mr Brown of being addicted to "state control".The Tories have accused Mr Brown of being addicted to "state control".
Mr Brown, who has been chancellor since Labour came to power in 1997, is due to take over from Tony Blair as prime minister next week.Mr Brown, who has been chancellor since Labour came to power in 1997, is due to take over from Tony Blair as prime minister next week.
'Big challenges''Big challenges'
On Monday Conservative leader David Cameron said the "clear dividing line" between him and Mr Brown was that the chancellor preferred "top-down state control" while the Tories would trust and work with people.On Monday Conservative leader David Cameron said the "clear dividing line" between him and Mr Brown was that the chancellor preferred "top-down state control" while the Tories would trust and work with people.
But Mr Brown told the BBC: "I have learned a lot in the last ten years. I have learned that top-down, 'pulling the lever solutions' are not always the ones that are going to work best."But Mr Brown told the BBC: "I have learned a lot in the last ten years. I have learned that top-down, 'pulling the lever solutions' are not always the ones that are going to work best."
We have got, in the modern world, to be able to draw on something wider than just Westminster if we are going to govern effectively Gordon Brown Lib Dem anger over 'tricks'We have got, in the modern world, to be able to draw on something wider than just Westminster if we are going to govern effectively Gordon Brown Lib Dem anger over 'tricks'
He said to meet the "big challenges" of climate change, global economic competition and terrorism, government had to work with people.He said to meet the "big challenges" of climate change, global economic competition and terrorism, government had to work with people.
"You really have to involve people and build a national consensus, if you are going to solve the challenges of the future.""You really have to involve people and build a national consensus, if you are going to solve the challenges of the future."
Mr Brown was interviewed by a panel of three senior BBC correspondents: political editor Nick Robinson, economics editor Evan Davis and world editor John Simpson.Mr Brown was interviewed by a panel of three senior BBC correspondents: political editor Nick Robinson, economics editor Evan Davis and world editor John Simpson.
In a wide-ranging session, covering questions emailed in by BBC News website readers, Mr Brown said that consensus should also include involving business more in improving schools and skills training.In a wide-ranging session, covering questions emailed in by BBC News website readers, Mr Brown said that consensus should also include involving business more in improving schools and skills training.
Tax 'higher'Tax 'higher'
He agreed that tax was higher now, as a percentage of national income, than it had been when Labour came to power, because of the rise in National Insurance to boost NHS funding.He agreed that tax was higher now, as a percentage of national income, than it had been when Labour came to power, because of the rise in National Insurance to boost NHS funding.
But he said the basic rate of income tax had fallen, and he believed people still supported the move to increase health service spending.But he said the basic rate of income tax had fallen, and he believed people still supported the move to increase health service spending.
On his decision to ask former Liberal Democrat leader Paddy Ashdown to join his first Cabinet, he said government had to "draw in" the best people who could make a contribution. Gordon Brown promises an EU referendum "if necessary" BBC political editor Nick Robinson class="" href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/nickrobinson/2007/06/interviewing_go.html">Read Nick's thoughts in full On his decision to ask former Liberal Democrat leader Paddy Ashdown to join his first Cabinet, he said government had to "draw in" the best people who could make a contribution.
This week Lord Ashdown rejected an approach by Mr Brown to serve as Northern Ireland Secretary.This week Lord Ashdown rejected an approach by Mr Brown to serve as Northern Ireland Secretary.
Mr Brown has been accused of going behind the back of current Lib Dem leader Sir Menzies Campbell and attempting to "destabilise" Britain's third biggest political party.Mr Brown has been accused of going behind the back of current Lib Dem leader Sir Menzies Campbell and attempting to "destabilise" Britain's third biggest political party.
But Mr Brown told the BBC there was "a lot of common ground" in British politics, on issues like the constitution, and he wanted to draw in people of talent, experience and expertise, regardless of "party labels".But Mr Brown told the BBC there was "a lot of common ground" in British politics, on issues like the constitution, and he wanted to draw in people of talent, experience and expertise, regardless of "party labels".
"We have got, in the modern world, to be able to draw on something wider than just Westminster if we are going to govern effectively," he said."We have got, in the modern world, to be able to draw on something wider than just Westminster if we are going to govern effectively," he said.
The full Meet the Editors interview with Gordon Brown will be shown at 1700 BST on BBC News 24.The full Meet the Editors interview with Gordon Brown will be shown at 1700 BST on BBC News 24.