GORDON Brown’s last-ditch attempt to save Scottish Labour from wipeout on Thursday was branded “nonsense” by deputy SNP leader Stewart Hosie.

Speaking at a Labour party event in Glasgow, the former prime minister warned that a vote for the SNP would see a Conservative government elected.

“This is nonsense from Gordon Brown – a vote for the SNP on Thursday is a vote to lock the Tories out of 10 Downing Street; as Nicola Sturgeon has made clear we will work with others to deliver progressive policies across the UK,” said Hosie. “The problem for Mr Brown is that his leader, Ed Miliband, indicated that he would prefer to let the Tories back into government than work with the SNP to keep them out.”

During the speech, which resembled the strident tone of his eve-of-referendum speech last September, Brown also appealed directly to Yes voters.

“I say to people in Scotland today, if you voted Yes in the referendum and you want change, you want social justice, then Labour is your party,” he said.

“Come to Labour and join us in Labour in Scotland’s fight for social justice. If you wanted a stronger parliament and thought that the best way of achieving that was the SNP then remember we have created the powers for the Scottish Parliament that will be legislated in 100 days. And I say join us and play your part in Labour in Scotland’s fight for social justice.”

Speaking before Brown, Scottish Labour leader Jim Murphy told activists that nearly one-third of voters were still undecided. There was, he said, 48 hours to convince them to save Labour.

It was an undoubtedly passionate and strident speech from Brown, his voice at times straining, as he admitted the Labour party was facing a struggle.

This, he said, would not be the first time that Labour had struggled: “This will be a difficult fight. Yes, we’ve been fighting against a multitude of opponents, yes, we’ve been fighting against what we might call the odds. But let us remember one thing ... the Labour party was born against the odds.”

Earlier, Brown admitted that the Union was on “life support” and that it was Labour who were providing that life support.

Brown, who said at the start of this speech that he was a footsoldier in the campaign, said there could be no deal between the SNP and Labour because of a difference in “principles”.

“The reason why we can’t do a deal with the SNP is not expediency, it’s a principle,” he said. “We cannot have a deal or a compromise or tie-in with a party that does share the principles of solidarity.”

He continued: “I find it perverse logic for the SNP to say they want a Labour government without voting for Labour candidates.

“It is perverse logic to say that they support the Labour party and a Labour government when they’re advocating Green and Plaid Cymru parties.

“It’s perverse to say they’ve ever supported the Labour Party.”

In 2010, when Brown was prime minister, Labour secured 42 per cent of the vote in Scotland.

The most recent poll of Scottish voters by YouGov found that support for Labour has dropped to 26 per cent.

Answering questions along with Brown after the speech, Murphy suggested that the key to success for Labour was in winning over the 29 per cent of Scots who are still undecided.

Responding, Hosie argued that the undecideds should support the SNP: “If Scotland unites on Thursday to deliver a big team of SNP MPs, Scotland will be stronger at Westminster and we can and will stop five more years of austerity cuts.” 


Ashcroft: ‘English Labour supporters unfazed by SNP’

THE prospect of a Labour government propped up by Nicola Sturgeon’s SNP would deter English voters from supporting Ed Miliband, according to the latest poll from a Tory peer.

Lord Ashcroft’s latest focus groups were interviewed in English constituencies – two very close Conservative-Labour marginals and one where the Liberal Democrats are seeking to fend off the Tories.

Ashcroft said voters thought if Labour leader Ed Miliband had to rely on SNP votes, he would be in no position to resist the party’s demands. This, he said would put Nicola Sturgeon in a “hugely powerful position despite not being in parliament at Westminster herself”.

“Who would govern the country?” asked one voter. “I think she’s stronger than he is.”

Yet despite this, Ashcroft found that the prospect of a Miliband-led government dependent on the SNP was not usually enough to deter those leaning towards Labour from voting for the party.

Rather, they had to choose the party that best represented their interests. After the election all sorts of combinations were possible and whatever happened was in any case “out of their hands”.

Ashcroft said this gave rise to constitutional questions: “What happens if no one can form a coalition? Does it go to penalties?”

He said one possible outcome was that Labour could form a government with the help of other parties, even if it came second to the Tories in the number of votes and seats.

The peer said: “Most did not realise such an outcome was even possible, and many – including many who planned to vote Labour – were indignant at the idea ‘they would have cheated their way in’.”