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Scotland has 'five big positives' to staying in UK, Gordon Brown says Scotland has 'five big positives' to staying in UK, Gordon Brown says
(about 5 hours later)
Gordon Brown told Scottish voters there are "five big positives" to remaining in the UK that far outweigh the case for independence, as he attempted to quash complaints about the negativity of the no campaign.Gordon Brown told Scottish voters there are "five big positives" to remaining in the UK that far outweigh the case for independence, as he attempted to quash complaints about the negativity of the no campaign.
The former prime minister told an audience at Glasgow university that a stronger Scotland within the UK would secure state pensions and NHS funding, 600,000 jobs reliant on UK trade, low interest rates and the country's close cultural ties with the rest of the UK.The former prime minister told an audience at Glasgow university that a stronger Scotland within the UK would secure state pensions and NHS funding, 600,000 jobs reliant on UK trade, low interest rates and the country's close cultural ties with the rest of the UK.
"Scotland's five big positives – the 'pluses' for being part of Britain – illustrate the benefits of spreading risks and redistributing resources across nations, making us a model for how different nations can work together in an increasingly interdependent world," he said, in his first speech for the cross-party, ailing Better Together campaign."Scotland's five big positives – the 'pluses' for being part of Britain – illustrate the benefits of spreading risks and redistributing resources across nations, making us a model for how different nations can work together in an increasingly interdependent world," he said, in his first speech for the cross-party, ailing Better Together campaign.
Those positives, he added, should be "emblazoned on every billboard, banner and leaflet."Those positives, he added, should be "emblazoned on every billboard, banner and leaflet."
Brown's speech, which included detailed claims that pooling the UK's resources allowed far higher pensions spending in Scotland than it would afford after independence, follows repeated allegations that the negativity of the no campaign has driven voters to support independence.Brown's speech, which included detailed claims that pooling the UK's resources allowed far higher pensions spending in Scotland than it would afford after independence, follows repeated allegations that the negativity of the no campaign has driven voters to support independence.
A series of recent opinion polls has shown a rapidly shrinking gap between the yes and no vote: an ICM poll for Scotland on Sunday at the weekend showed the yes vote had held steady at 39% while the no vote had declined from 46% to 42%, with more voters, 19%, now undecided.A series of recent opinion polls has shown a rapidly shrinking gap between the yes and no vote: an ICM poll for Scotland on Sunday at the weekend showed the yes vote had held steady at 39% while the no vote had declined from 46% to 42%, with more voters, 19%, now undecided.
Buoyed by the shift in the polls, Salmond is due to tell an audience in Carlisle on Wednesday that independence will see a strengthening of northern England's ties to Scotland and allow Edinburgh to become a powerful counter-balance to London's substantial influence.
In a speech to mark St George's Day, the patron saint of England, Salmond said there would be cross-border economic forums set up between Scottish and English local authorities after independence to cement those ties.
Disputing Brown's claims that Scotland would lose access to the BBC, stating Scottish viewers would still get "many of the same programmes", Salmond is due to say: "The ties that bind the nations of these islands will continue and flourish after Scotland becomes independent.
"You will remain Scotland's closest friends, as well as our closest neighbours. Following independence, the social union between the peoples of these islands will remain."
Claiming London had left the UK "profoundly unbalanced", Salmond will conclude: "An independent Scotland will be an economic counterweight to London and the south east of England – causing a much needed and fundamental rebalancing of these islands."
Brown insisted that the yes campaign and Scottish National party were presenting voters with false choices, trying to divide the campaigns between those defending Scotland and those defending Britain.Brown insisted that the yes campaign and Scottish National party were presenting voters with false choices, trying to divide the campaigns between those defending Scotland and those defending Britain.
Scotland already was a nation, with its own distinct institutions and a powerful Scottish parliament set to get more powers, and the pro-UK campaign, Brown said, were just as determined to protect those too.Scotland already was a nation, with its own distinct institutions and a powerful Scottish parliament set to get more powers, and the pro-UK campaign, Brown said, were just as determined to protect those too.
The key issue was the correct balance between powers held in Edinburgh and those shared with London, particularly over currency and the financial resources to protect state pensions, NHS funding and the UK single market.The key issue was the correct balance between powers held in Edinburgh and those shared with London, particularly over currency and the financial resources to protect state pensions, NHS funding and the UK single market.
"So our case has the right starting point – seeking to meet the needs and aspirations of the Scottish people, the only voters in the referendum. We are posing the right choice – between two competing visions of Scotland's future," Brown said."So our case has the right starting point – seeking to meet the needs and aspirations of the Scottish people, the only voters in the referendum. We are posing the right choice – between two competing visions of Scotland's future," Brown said.
"Given we are already a nation, have our own distinctive national institutions and have a Scottish Parliament whose powers are about to expand, the referendum comes down to one unresolved issue: do we, the Scottish people, want to sever all political links with our neighbours in the rest of the UK?"Given we are already a nation, have our own distinctive national institutions and have a Scottish Parliament whose powers are about to expand, the referendum comes down to one unresolved issue: do we, the Scottish people, want to sever all political links with our neighbours in the rest of the UK?
"My answer is no. With our partnership for pensions, NHS funding, more jobs, lower interest rates and strong cultural links like the BBC, all the evidence is that we are better together.""My answer is no. With our partnership for pensions, NHS funding, more jobs, lower interest rates and strong cultural links like the BBC, all the evidence is that we are better together."