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Brown turns fire on rival parties Brown turns fire on rival parties
(1 day later)
Gordon Brown will attempt to put Labour's leadership turmoil behind him with a speech defending the Union.Gordon Brown will attempt to put Labour's leadership turmoil behind him with a speech defending the Union.
The chancellor is expected to stress Scotland's links with England as he defends the values of "Britishness".The chancellor is expected to stress Scotland's links with England as he defends the values of "Britishness".
He will say the Scottish National Party wants to tear Scotland from the UK, while the Tories promote English votes on English issues at Westminster.He will say the Scottish National Party wants to tear Scotland from the UK, while the Tories promote English votes on English issues at Westminster.
However, the rival parties said Labour was in "terminal decline" and that its MSPs should be worried.However, the rival parties said Labour was in "terminal decline" and that its MSPs should be worried.
Mr Brown is speaking in Edinburgh the day after Tony Blair announced he would stand aside as leader within a year.Mr Brown is speaking in Edinburgh the day after Tony Blair announced he would stand aside as leader within a year.
War footingWar footing
On Thursday, Mr Brown said he supported the prime minister in his decision.On Thursday, Mr Brown said he supported the prime minister in his decision.
He received applause from Labour MSPs when he met them later to place the party on a war footing for next year's Holyrood election.He received applause from Labour MSPs when he met them later to place the party on a war footing for next year's Holyrood election.
Glasgow Govan MSP Gordon Jackson told reporters that during the meeting Mr Brown had made more mention of Raith Rovers, the football team he follows, than the leadership contest.Glasgow Govan MSP Gordon Jackson told reporters that during the meeting Mr Brown had made more mention of Raith Rovers, the football team he follows, than the leadership contest.
I stand here today again to speak up for Britain and Britishness and for the values that make us proud of our Britishness Gordon Brown Scottish fears over Blair crisisI stand here today again to speak up for Britain and Britishness and for the values that make us proud of our Britishness Gordon Brown Scottish fears over Blair crisis
The chancellor will attempt to shift the debate on Friday with a speech stressing the family connections which cross the border between Scotland and England.The chancellor will attempt to shift the debate on Friday with a speech stressing the family connections which cross the border between Scotland and England.
He will say: "The SNP want Scotland separate from the UK and want to force Scotland to choose between Scotland and Britain.He will say: "The SNP want Scotland separate from the UK and want to force Scotland to choose between Scotland and Britain.
"The Conservatives want English votes for English laws and want the English to choose between England and Britain."The Conservatives want English votes for English laws and want the English to choose between England and Britain.
"For all of my political life, I have stood up for Britain and I stand here today again to speak up for Britain and Britishness and for the values that make us proud of our Britishness.""For all of my political life, I have stood up for Britain and I stand here today again to speak up for Britain and Britishness and for the values that make us proud of our Britishness."
He will say there is a common view that Scotland and England are moving further apart, but that this is not true when it comes to family connections.He will say there is a common view that Scotland and England are moving further apart, but that this is not true when it comes to family connections.
Labour difficulties Signs of panic
Mr Brown will estimate that 2.5 million Scottish residents are either English or have English relatives.Mr Brown will estimate that 2.5 million Scottish residents are either English or have English relatives.
"For the first time ever, over half of Scots have relatives from south of the border," he will say."For the first time ever, over half of Scots have relatives from south of the border," he will say.
SNP leader Alex Salmond said Labour's difficulties presented an opportunity for Scotland and for his party. However, SNP leader Alex Salmond is expected to say during a tour of Markinch in Fife that Mr Brown's "outburst" is based on "panic".
"Scotland goes to the polls next May and it doesn't look like Labour is in any shape to govern themselves never mind to govern Scotland," he said. He believes that Mr Brown is in Scotland to attack the SNP, in the same way Tony Blair did last week.
He described Mr Blair as a "lame duck" and said his statement had "solved absolutely nothing". Mr Salmond added: "The only person that doesn't seem to be getting a look-in is the Labour politician who is supposed to be standing against me to be first minister of Scotland next year, Mr McConnell.
"It seems that the only thing that Brown and Blair actually agree on is that McConnell is not up to the job of fighting the SNP on his own, and that he needs as much help as he can get.
"While Brown and Blair obsess about their own future job prospects, the SNP will concentrate on the future of all of the people of Scotland."