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British union at risk, Brown says Anglo-Scottish union 'is at risk'
(30 minutes later)
The union of England and Scotland is at risk from a "dangerous drift" towards separatism, Gordon Brown has warned. The Union of England and Scotland is at risk from a "dangerous drift" towards separatism, Gordon Brown has warned.
Writing in the Daily Telegraph, he urged supporters to speak up for the 300-year-old union and resist any drift towards a "Balkanisation of Britain". Writing in the Daily Telegraph, he urged supporters to speak up for the 300-year-old Union and resist any drift towards a "Balkanisation of Britain".
The chancellor said Britain's success as a union should be acknowledged. The chancellor said Britain's success as a Union should be acknowledged.
It is being challenged by secessionists in Scotland, Wales and England, he says. Scotland is devolved and nationalists want independence.It is being challenged by secessionists in Scotland, Wales and England, he says. Scotland is devolved and nationalists want independence.
Holyrood electionsHolyrood elections
Mr Brown, MP for Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath, is expected to take over from Tony Blair later this year.Mr Brown, MP for Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath, is expected to take over from Tony Blair later this year.
In his article, he warned: "It is now time for supporters of the union to speak up, to resist any drift towards a Balkanisation of Britain and to acknowledge Great Britain for the success it has been and is." In his article, he warned: "It is now time for supporters of the Union to speak up, to resist any drift towards a Balkanisation of Britain and to acknowledge Great Britain for the success it has been and is."
He said Britain was a model of how nations could live side by side, but also be "stronger together but weaker apart".He said Britain was a model of how nations could live side by side, but also be "stronger together but weaker apart".
The failure to defend and promote the United Kingdom is now becoming more a feature of the thinking of the Right Gordon Brown The failure to defend and promote the United Kingdom is now becoming more a feature of the thinking of the right Gordon Brown
This year is the 300th anniversary of the Act of Union that merged the English and Scottish parliaments.This year is the 300th anniversary of the Act of Union that merged the English and Scottish parliaments.
The pro-Scottish independence SNP is tipped to do well in the Scottish Parliament elections in May, with the independence debate likely to crop up often in the campaign.The pro-Scottish independence SNP is tipped to do well in the Scottish Parliament elections in May, with the independence debate likely to crop up often in the campaign.
Since devolution, some politicians have questioned why Scottish MPs should continue to vote on exclusively English matters while MPs generally cannot vote on most Scottish domestic policy.Since devolution, some politicians have questioned why Scottish MPs should continue to vote on exclusively English matters while MPs generally cannot vote on most Scottish domestic policy.
The Conservatives have suggested for some time now that it might be better if exclusively English laws were voted on by English MPs alone.The Conservatives have suggested for some time now that it might be better if exclusively English laws were voted on by English MPs alone.
Mr Brown praised former Conservative Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher for her defence of the union, and attacked Conservatives for not promoting it. Mr Brown praised former Conservative Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher for her defence of the Union, and attacked Conservatives for not promoting it.
'Perilous orthodoxy''Perilous orthodoxy'
"The failure to defend and promote the United Kingdom is now becoming more a feature of the thinking of the Right," he said. "The failure to defend and promote the United Kingdom is now becoming more a feature of the thinking of the right," he said.
"Conservative writers now embrace anti-unionist positions, from independence to another anti-Thatcher stance: 'English votes for English laws' - itself a Trojan horse for separation."Conservative writers now embrace anti-unionist positions, from independence to another anti-Thatcher stance: 'English votes for English laws' - itself a Trojan horse for separation.
"Regrettably, an opportunist coalition of minority nationalists and what used to be the Conservative and Unionist Party is forming around a newly-fashionable but perilous orthodoxy emphasising what divides us rather than what unites.""Regrettably, an opportunist coalition of minority nationalists and what used to be the Conservative and Unionist Party is forming around a newly-fashionable but perilous orthodoxy emphasising what divides us rather than what unites."
He also argued that "once-fashionable" multiculturalism had become an excuse for justifying separateness, at the cost of unity.He also argued that "once-fashionable" multiculturalism had become an excuse for justifying separateness, at the cost of unity.
"And this is the dangerous drift in anti-unionist sentiment today."And this is the dangerous drift in anti-unionist sentiment today.
"For while it is healthy to recognise the distinctiveness of each nation, we will lose all if politicians play fast and loose with the union and abandon national purpose to a focus on what divides." "For while it is healthy to recognise the distinctiveness of each nation, we will lose all if politicians play fast and loose with the Union and abandon national purpose to a focus on what divides."
Liberal Democrat leader Menzies Campbell said Mr Brown was right to highlight the "Faustian bargain" between the nationalists and the Tories in Britain.Liberal Democrat leader Menzies Campbell said Mr Brown was right to highlight the "Faustian bargain" between the nationalists and the Tories in Britain.
"They may have different motives but their actions will jointly lead to the same conclusion - the break-up of the union," he said. "They may have different motives but their actions will jointly lead to the same conclusion - the break-up of the Union," he said.
Sir Menzies said he accepted the need for the union to be modernised to take account of devolution to Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Sir Menzies said he accepted the need for the Union to be modernised to take account of devolution to Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
But he added: "There is much more to be gained in common purpose than by separatism."But he added: "There is much more to be gained in common purpose than by separatism."