Gordon Brown has popped up in the Guardian today to warn that the evil Tories are going to destroy the Union. The former Prime Minister laments in an op-ed the government’s attitude towards Scotland and calls for a ‘constitutional convention’ to figure out the ‘rights and responsibilities of citizens’ in different parts of the Union. If we don’t, Brown warns, the Union is in big trouble:
‘No union can survive without unionists and, after an election in which, to head off Ukip, the Conservative and Unionist party presented itself as the English Nationalist party, it is clear that the union is on life support … It is London’s equivocation over Scotland that is becoming the greater risk to the UK.’
Brown has a point that the makeup of the House of Commons after the election is odd. The ruling party has just one representative north of the border (as do his own party), yet most of Scotland is represented by a party whose power is limited to charing two select committees and throwing abuse across the green benches. The 56 nationalists have made a noisy arrival in Westminster and there is no sign of nationalism dying down in the near future.
But, Brown has an incredible brass neck to complain about endangering the Union. It was under the Labour government in which he served as Chancellor that the Scottish parliament was created, with the aim of killing off independence. Instead, devolution stoked the flames of nationalism, which culminated in Labour’s wipeout north of the border. Although few in Labour would admit it, they bear some responsibility for what happened to them in Scotland at the general election.
Brown also decided to slink away from politics at the most crucial moment. His speech on the eve of the referendum, which many claimed saved the union, left David Cameron with little choice but to promise Scotland more powers. Cameron then had to make a similar offer to England — something Brown is not happy about. Then instead of continuing to fight for Labour north of the border, Brown decided to leave Parliament. Unlike his other Labour colleagues, he did not have to suffer the humiliation of defeat at the hands of the SNP. He also decided against taking the fight to the nationalists in Scottish Parliament or standing for Scottish Labour leader.
Brown’s op-ed clearly shows he has a passion for the the union, but it’s unfair for Brown to blame Cameron for all of its present problems. He and his own party have done far more damage to the constitutional fabric of the United Kingdom than the Tories.
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