Gordon Brown Calls For Scotland To Unite Toward 'Common Purpose'

Former British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, in a speech delivered a day after the announcement of the Scottish referendum result, called for the “Yes” and “No” camps to unite toward a “common purpose,” according to media reports.

“There is a time to fight, but there is a time to unite and this is the time for Scotland to unite and see if it can find common purpose and move from the battle ground to the common ground,” the Labour Party politician reportedly said.

Brown, who had campaigned for the “Better Together” camp, reportedly described himself as a “promise keeper” and said that the leaders of the three main political parties of the United Kingdom were “promise makers” and would not be “promise breakers.”

“The eyes of the world have been upon us and now I think the eyes of the world are upon the leaders of the major parties in the United Kingdom…I will ensure as a promise keeper that these promises that have been made are upheld,” Brown reportedly told his supporters in the council of Fife in Scotland.

Brown also praised Alex Salmond, who announced Friday that he will resign from the post of Scottish First Minister and as leader of the Scottish National Party, for his years of service and reportedly said that the people of Scotland owed Salmond a debt of gratitude.

Following Scotland’s decision to continue its three-century-old union with the UK, British politicians across parties have reaffirmed their commitment to hand over substantial powers, including control over taxes, public spending and welfare, to Scotland.

David Cameron, in a speech delivered Friday, said that the British government will work toward giving the people of Scotland “more power over their affairs” and will take forward its “devolution commitments.”