Gordon Brown yesterday paid tribute to his local high school and its motto to which he said he owed his political success.

Mr Brown grew up in Kirkcaldy, Fife, the constituency which he represents, and attended Kirkcaldy High School Speaking outside 10 Downing Street after becoming Prime Minister yesterday, he said: "On this day I remember words that have stayed with me since my childhood and which matter a great deal today - my school motto: I will try my utmost'."

But Mr Brown's translation of the Latin motto, Usque Conabor, appeared to be up for debate last night.

On the school's website it is translated as "working together to improve".

John McKie, former principal teacher of Classics at Hutchesons' Grammar School in Glasgow, said that "I will do my utmost" was an accurate translation of Mr Brown's school motto and described as "colourless" the literal version of Usque Conabor as "working together to improve" on the school's website.