Britain may be a small island, but I would
challenge anyone to find a country with a prouder history, a bigger heart or greater resilience.
'Britain is an island that has helped to clear the European continent of fascism - and was resolute in doing that throughout World War Two.
'Britain is an island that helped to abolish slavery, that has invented most of the things worth inventing, including every sport currently played around the world, that still today is responsible for art, literature and music that delights the entire world.
'We are very proud of everything we do as a small island - a small island that has the sixth-largest economy, the fourth best-funded military, some of the most effective diplomats, the proudest history, one of the best records for art and literature and contribution to philosophy and world civilisation.
'For the people who live in Northern Ireland, I should say we are not just an island, we are a collection of islands. I don't want anyone in Shetland or Orkney to feel left out by this.
'I'm thinking of setting this to music.'
Then at the press conference in the afternoon he said:
'Something I believe very deeply is that yes, we are a small island. In fact a small group of islands.
'But I would challenge anyone to come up with a country with a prouder history, with a bigger heart, a greater resilience.
'This is a country cleared a European continent of fascism, that took slavery off the high seas.
We're a country that invented many of the things that are most worthwhile, everything from the industrial revolution and television, the world wide web.
'Our music delights and amuses millions, The Beatles, Elgar and slightly less er... congruously, One Direction have conquered the world.
'We have invested most of the sports that the one world most likes playing.
'If I go on too long about our literature, our art, our philosophy, our contribution including of course the world's language.
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