GORDON BROWN set out his vision of how to strengthen Britain’s national identity yesterday as he prepared to return to the political centre stage with his Budget statement tomorrow.

In a highly unusual series of extended interviews filmed in several locations with BBC’s Newsnight, the Chancellor put forward a personal vision of Britishness. He said that Britain should be proud of its colonial past — not ashamed of it — and called for compulsory history lessons in the national curriculum. Mr Brown also suggested that English language lessons be made compulsory for young people who are out of work as a condition for their claiming benefits and other state help.

The Chancellor’s belief in the importance of debating British identity after devolution in Scotland and Wales is one of the longer-term themes which his supporters say that he would put centre-stage should he become Prime Minister.

The Chancellor issued a coded criticism of Tony Blair’s belief in Britain’s role as a bridge between the United States and Europe. Mr Brown said: “We are more than a bridge between Europe and America. It is not enough.” A bridge was a “mechanical device” between different points whereas Britain had its own identity. He said: “We stand for more than simply the people who bring people together, we have values of our own.”

Mr Brown also appeared to call for greater radicalism on reforming the House of Lords. He said: “Everybody knows that the change in the second chamber has not been completed. It has got to continue.”

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