Brown proposals for united Scotland

Former prime minster Gordon Brown has set out proposals for a united Scotland after the historic referendum returned a No result and pledged that the promises made on further devolution would be delivered.

At a speech in Fife, a day after Scotland voted to remain part of the Union, Mr Brown said: 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 and let us seek to find high ground in trying to find a way forward for the future.''

The former Labour leader, whose intervention in the referendum campaign has been credited with helping to secure the No vote, added: I am sure we can find ways to unify against the odds.

Today I want to set out proposals that might be discussed across the country that might unite this country around a set of common causes we can all endorse, Yes and No campaigners.

The eyes of the world have been upon us and now I think the eyes of the world are on the leaders of the major parties of the United Kingdom. These are men who have been promise makers and they will not be promise breakers.

I will ensure that as a promise keeper that these promises that have been made will be upheld.

We will lock in today the promises that have been made and why the timetable we set out will be delivered. Action has already been taken to make sure that happens.''

The biggest victim of the referendum battle was Alex Salmond, who announced hours after the result that he would quit as First Minister and Scottish National Party leader.

Mr Brown praised the First Minister for his years of service and said the people of Scotland of Scotland owed him a debt of gratitude.