US and EU relationships "good for Britain"

Gordon Brown says building strong international relationships are in the British national interest.

Speaking in an ITV News interview earlier this evening, the Prime Minister said that he was in his post to "stand up for the British national interest".

"Everything I do is about how Britain can do better in the future," he said after a busy first week at Number 10.

"We have responsibilities in the world, we have duties to other countries and that is why we want to build up the strongest possible relationships with America and with Europe."

When asked about the Union flag, which now permanently flies over Downing Street, Mr Brown said that it forms part of what unites us as a country. He said common values of liberty, civic responsibility and fairness are reflected in common symbols, "including the Monarch, Parliament itself, but also of course the Union flag."

Reflecting on yesterday's "theatre" of PMQs, he said it was important to "get on with the business of change"

"You report it, there is a bit of theatre in it, there are a lot of jokes sometimes.

"But actually what the British people want to know is are you getting on with your job, are you representing their interests, are you doing what you should be doing, and that is responding to people's concerns?"

ENDS

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