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Brown presses case for UK in Brussels

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Former Prime Minister Gordon Brown is speaking in the European Parliament in Brussels today about the independence referendum.

The Labour MP will consider the rise of nationalist movements in Europe and the response to Scottish nationalism and the historic vote on September 18.

Mr Brown will base his address at the parliament in Brussels on the themes of independence and interdependence.

He will seek to explain why he thinks political nationalism, which was absent in Scotland for almost 300 years, has emerged as a powerful but “not unstoppable force”.

Mr Brown will draw lessons for what Britain should do and how Europe must change in the wake of widespread discontent reflected in both nationalist support and other social movements.

Labour MEP David Martin said: “There will be great interest in this speech.

“The prospect of Scottish independence has serious implications for the EU and for many member states who have secessionist movements of their own.”

Meanwhile, the SNP have seized on a Survation opinion poll which found 54% of people supported independence when faced with the prospect of the Conservatives being re-elected to Westminster next year.

Former Home Secretary David Blunkett, who is stepping down as an MP, has warned that losing the general election would see Labour “in the wilderness for as much as 15 years”.

SNP Westminster leader Angus Robertson, MP for Moray, said: “David Cameron might be scoring points in the Westminster arena but his progress south of the border only reaffirms that Scotland needs a ‘yes vote to get rid of Tory governments that we did not elect.

“The prospect of another Tory government in Scotland is frightening.

“The unprecedented Westminster cuts have already hit the poorest hardest and more austerity is inevitable.

“With independence, Scotland will get the government we vote for every time and we can work toward building the fairer Scotland we all want to see.”