GORDON Brown is being called on to apologise for claiming that the UK would be as “close to a federal state” as possible within two years of Scots voting No in the 2014 independence referendum.
It comes as Brown is due to speak at a Unionist rally organised by the Our Scottish Future think tank in Edinburgh on Thursday evening.
Independence Minister Jamie Hepburn called for Brown to be held to account for promises he made ahead of the 2014 referendum result.
Citing an article published by The Scotsman in 2014 in which Brown claimed that a new federal settlement would be delivered within two years of a No vote, Hepburn highlighted how Brown demonstrably failed to keep his promises.
“On the eve of the 2014 referendum, Gordon Brown made promises that would have made even snake-oil salesmen blush.
“He could not have been clearer that if people in Scotland voted against independence, in his own words, that 'we’re going to be, within a year or two, as close to a federal state as you can be'.
“Within that time period we have been dragged out of the EU against our will, and the powers of our parliament are under attack like never before.
“The Sewel Convention which was supposed to prevent Westminster over-riding the Scottish Parliament is now routinely being breached.
“Laws passed in explicitly devolved areas are struck down at the stroke of the Scottish Secretary’s pen. And the Foreign Secretary is sending out threatening letters to overseas embassies trying to restrict Scottish Ministers’ efforts to secure jobs and investment for Scotland.
“In contrast to what Gordon Brown promised, the reality is that we are about as far from a federal state as you can get – and nothing that pro-Brexit Labour are proposing in their anaemic devolution proposals will make any difference.
“Jobs have been lost and living standards have been harmed because promises that Gordon Brown made were not kept, and before he takes to the stage he needs to apologise.
“By becoming independent, the people of Scotland will always get the parliament and the governments we vote for. We can form a new partnership with people across these islands – and use Scotland’s enormous resources to build a fairer economy and boost public services like our NHS.”
The First Minister of Wales, Mark Drakeford, is also due to speak at the ‘Making Britain Work for Scotland’ rally on Thursday being held at the Central Hall in Edinburgh.
Mayor of Manchester Andy Burnham, Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar, Mayor of West Yorkshire Tracy Brabin and comedian Arabella Weir are also due to appear at the event.
