Former Tory chairman says Gordon Brown is man to lead anti-independence campaign
A former Tory chairman has called for ex-Labour Prime Minister Gordon Brown to lead the drive to keep Scotland in the United Kingdom.
Mr Duncan says the no campaign should take advantage of the fact that Gordon Brown ''remains bizarrely popular in Scotland''.
- By David Clegg, political editor
- Published in the Courier : 18.01.12
- Published online : 18.01.12 @ 04.01pm
Peter Duncan warned the impression the Prime Minister David Cameron or his deputy Nick Clegg are in charge would be ''dangerous'' and could help nationalists win the independence referendum.
Instead, he called on unionists to unite ''quickly'' behind Mr Brown, the Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath MP, as the campaign figurehead.
He said unionists must never mention ''freedom'' if they want to stop Alex Salmond winning the crunch constitutional vote.
Mr Duncan, who served as chairman of the Tory Party north of the border and as shadow Scottish Secretary, warned the SNP is ''a world-class campaigning machine'' which could win the independence vote.
Publishing his list of dos and don'ts for Tory campaigners, he warned: ''The message that David Cameron or Ed Miliband or Nick Clegg are in charge is wrong and dangerous. Every time an English MP appears as a face of the no campaign, it plays into Salmond's hands.
''Don't let the arguments originate in Westminster. We've been doing this for decades, and look where we are now. It's the unionist strategy Alex Salmond would have written himself.''
Mr Duncan acknowledged that Mr Salmond ''and the rest of his 68 MSPs have the right to hold the referendum they want to hold — at the time they want to hold it.''
But he added: '''Independence' is a positive word and it's their word. Our word is 'separation'. We cannot and must not allow the debate to be framed in Alex Salmond's terms.
''For him, and for too many others like him, 'independence' and 'freedom' are likable concepts and often used interchangeably. We should avoid them.''
He also warned that English Conservatives could drive Scottish voters out of the UK.
He said: ''I've always said the bigger threat to the union was English not Scottish nationalism. Plenty of Tory backbenchers will be battling for reselection on new boundaries, whilst nurturing growing grudges at a lack of ministerial office opportunities.
''SNP copywriters are desperate for easy quotes from English Conservative MPs who fancy having a little-England snipe at Scotland.''
Calling for urgent moves to get the No campaign under way, he said: ''The campaign figurehead needs to be a Labour one. I wouldn't rule out Gordon Brown, who remains bizarrely popular in Scotland despite the damage he has done.''
And in a move that further isolated him from official party thinking, he suggested letting voters have the option of extra powers for Holyrood to help see off the independence vote.
He said: ''Don't talk Scotland down by suggesting that Scotland needs England. Don't say that Scotland couldn't make its own way in the world. It could — the question to be answered is whether it should.''
Angus South MSP Graeme Dey said the advice would make ''uncomfortable reading'' for Tories.
''This is a devastating critique of the Conservatives' current policy toward Scotland and their inability to present a coherent campaign against independence,'' said the SNP MSP.
The development came as it emerged Mr Salmond is likely to meet Scottish Secretary Michael Moore on Thursday or Friday of next week to discuss the referendum.
He has also written to Mr Cameron to suggest they meet in Scotland as soon as possible afterwards.
06.51pm - 18.01.2012 Stephen - Dundee, United Kingdom Report This
The damage was done by Tony Blair who saw what was coming and sold Gordon down the river on his merry way. The constant press intrusions and media drag down of this poor man meant he never had a chance and was never allowed to do his job properly from the outset.
08.30pm - 18.01.2012 Alexander - Montrose, Angus Report This
This week Gordon Brown,last week it was Alistair Darling, Tony Blair next week,,,David Cameron the Prime Minister must lead to campaign for the Union, anyone else is second best.
09.52pm - 18.01.2012 Max - Dundee, Scotland Report This
The Age of Austerity is Gordon Brown's legacy. Having Brown lead the pro-union campaign will be a recipe for diisaster.
02.59am - 19.01.2012 Shafqat - Sunderland, United Kingdom Report This
Gorden Brown was a man of courage in British Politics, what he did for this country, dont think so any body will do or serve in same manner,,, I think it is a time that Brown support the referendom in favour of his own scotish people,
08.19am - 19.01.2012 Keith - Edinburgh , United Kingdom Report This
I agree, I liked Gordon Brown as Prime Minister, he is highly intelligent and would be more than suitable to play a part in the unionist campaign to save the union from the separatists! He does not have to play a main role in the campaign, but he can still be one of many figure heads.
12.27pm - 19.01.2012 Bazza - Dundee, Scotland GB Report This
Looking back, I'm not sure that he would have been a good PM even if the conditions were that good when he took over. brown will be best known for his Chancellorship, and not joining the Euro despite huge criticism. How many of his political foes would own up to that? He has a role to play now.
08.17pm - 19.01.2012 Euan - Montrose, Angus, Scotland Report This
Gordon Brown will do the SNP a great service. He is dour with no character or charisma, infact some may see him as an egotist. We cant forget that he stated his favourite sporting moment was when England put Scotland out of the European cup. So hes all up for Scotland then?
09.35pm - 19.01.2012 Jim - Dundee, Scotland Report This
Brown kept us out of the Euro when he was chancellor, people like Alex Salmond and Angus Robertson jeered and demanded we join up. Who's laughing now?
09.43am - 20.01.2012 William Wallace - Stirling, Scotland Report This
I'm pro-independence so yes please, bumbling Brown would be most welcome by me to spearhead a campaign to keep Scotland in the UK.
10.37am - 20.01.2012 Caadfael - Forfar, Nuclear free Scotland Report This
Of course he should! Another 1000 new sign-ups for the SNP!!
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