Jennifer was an inspiration to my wife and me, says Brown

Gordon Brown, the Chancellor, said yesterday that his baby daughter Jennifer Jane had been an "inspiration" to him and his wife, Sarah.

Jennifer's life before she died from a brain haemorrhage at 10 days old had changed everything for the couple, Mr Brown said. Everyone who saw the baby had noticed her beauty, and he and Sarah had experienced the joy of parenthood as well as grief at their child's death, he said.

Jennifer was born seven weeks prematurely on 28 December, weighing 2lb 4oz. Mrs Brown left hospital after six days, but the next day an ultrasound examination of the child showed there was "cause for concern" and Jennifer was transferred to Edinburgh's Royal Infirmary, where she died on 7 January.

Mr Brown praised the skills of the doctors and midwives who had treated his daughter, and said their friendship during the time of grief had "truly moved" the couple.

"Thousands of people around the country have written to us – many people have been in the position and lost a young child. They know the grief and pain of losing someone so young," the Chancellor told GMTV. But people also knew the joy of parenthood, and everyone had commented on the beauty of his daughter, who was an "inspiration". Mr Brown added: "It is true to say that, for both of us, nothing can ever quite be the same again."

On party politics, Mr Brown spoke of his desire to put the health service on a "solid, long-term financial footing" so people could be sure it was there for them when it was needed. However, he refused to discuss the possibility of tax increases to provide extra spending on health, saying that the decision would not be made before the next Budget.

The Chancellor also announced that he was setting up a Commonwealth Education Fund with the aim of ensuring that every child in the Commonwealth had a school place within 10 years. The Government would put £10m into the fund and ask businesses to donate to it, Mr Brown said.