Andy Burnham fought back tears today as he declared he is "utterly determined" to prove John Swinney wrong on the future of the UK.
In a landmark speech at the Labour Party conference in Liverpool, the Prime Minister declared Britain was a country of "solidarity not separation" and said he would fight "to turn it around".
"Where I can’t agree with others, I will fight hard for what I believe to be right and what I believe to be in the best interest of this country," he told a packed hall of Labour members and politicians.
Swinney's prediction
Swinney predicted on September 14 that Burnham would be the last Prime Minister of the UK in its current guise, following election wins in May for Plaid Cymru in Wales and the SNP in Scotland.
The Labour leader said it was the same day as his father died from Alzheimer's disease - and told the conference he was not looking to "seek sympathy" or criticise Swinney.
"Anyway, my dad Roy would have been the first to defend his right to say it," he added.
Determination to prove him wrong
To huge cheers from the audience, Burnham continued: "I relay it because I want you to know how it made me feel. Utterly determined to prove him wrong."
The speech saw a raft of policy announcements as Labour prepares to fight the next general election.
