Brown Appeals to Scots' Patriotism for Vote against Split

W460

Former British prime minister Gordon Brown appealed to wartime patriotism at a rally in Glasgow on Wednesday, calling on Scots to reject independence in a momentous referendum less than a day away.

"We'll win," said Brown, a Scottish ex-leader of the Labor party who has given new drive to the flagging "No" campaign in recent weeks.

"Voting 'No' will deliver faster, safer, better and friendlier change," he said, appearing alongside former finance minister Alistair Darling and British comedian Eddie Izzard.

"We fought two world wars together. There's not a cemetery in Europe that doesn't have a Scot, a Welshman, an Irish and an Englishman side by side. When they fought together, they never asked each other where they came from," he said.

After months of being in the lead, the "No" campaign appeared to sputter in recent weeks, and commentators say Brown has helped give it new energy by promising parliament would offer new powers to the Scottish government with draft laws by January.

"We are on the eve of the most momentous decision that Scotland has taken ... If you have any doubt, don't doubt it and vote yes," Darling said at the event.

Among the participants at the campaign event, Vicky Greig, a 27-year-old surgeon said the pro-independence Scottish National party were putting out "lies".

"They intend to monopolize and use the most vulnerable parts of society, the people in need," she said.

Paul Sweeney, 25, a shipbuilder, said he thought of fellow Britons not as "competitors" but as "comrades".

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