Miliband says Brown is a “towering political figure for a generation”

Ahead of Gordon Brown’s speech this evening – in which he will announce his retirement from Parliament – Labour leader Ed Miliband told BBC News that Brown was a “towering political figure for a generation”. Miliband – who worked for years as an adviser to Brown – went on to say:

“He’s been instrumental in many of the Labour government’s achievements, like investment in health and education, the minimum wage. He worked with other world leaders to stop the financial crisis becoming a world depression. Even recently, he played a really important role in the Scottish referendum, making sure there was a No vote. Gordon will obviously be missed but he will carry on serving the Labour party I am sure, in other ways.”

Update: Here’s Ed Miliband’s full statement on Brown’s resignation:

“On behalf of the Labour Party I want to thank Gordon Brown for his outstanding 32-year parliamentary career. 

“He is a towering figure in British politics because, for a generation, he helped make the political weather and change our country.

“He played an enormous role in getting Labour elected in 1997 and sustaining the Party in government.

“For 10 years as Chancellor of the Exchequer he was behind many of Labour’s proudest achievements including the Minimum Wage, Sure Start, the Child Tax Credit, paid paternity leave and sustained investment in health and education.

“As Prime Minister he led this country out of the biggest global financial crash for a generation and helped to prevent a second Great Depression.

“Gordon has a proud record on global justice including the negotiation of debt cancellation for the world’s poorest nations.

“More recently we saw him at his very best – passionate, inspiring and inspired, campaigning for Scotland to stay in the United Kingdom.

“I wish Gordon, Sarah and their boys well. I know Gordon will continue to serve our party and our country in many different ways. I know he will continue to campaign for justice around the world.”