Brown hints at Holyrood return to take on Salmond

FORMER prime minister Gordon Brown has suggested he could make a shock return to front-line politics in Scotland.

Gordon Brown has said he is prepared to return to Holyrood. Picture: Jane Barlow

The former Labour leader’s latest intervention came as Ed Miliband made a heartfelt plea to Scots to protect “solidarity” and the NHS across the UK, in a speech standing next to Donald’s Dewar’s statue in Glasgow’s shopping district.

Mr Brown, speaking in Kilmarnock yesterday, accused the First Minister of deceiving voters over NHS privatisation claims.

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The Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath MP, who has been in the Commons since 1983, signalled he may consider standing as part of Scottish Labour leader Johann Lamont’s team at the 2016 Holyrood elections.

He said: “If Alex Salmond wants to continue to tell you that he is powerless to do anything about the NHS under the existing powers of the Scottish Parliament, if he continues to peddle that lie, let him make way for the Labour Party and we’ll run the health service properly.

“If he continues to peddle this deception, then I will want to join Johann Lamont in securing the return of a Labour government as quickly as possible.”

Mr Miliband warned that a Yes vote posed risks to jobs, the economy and the NHS, “one of the proudest achievements of our movement”.

SNP business convener Derek Mackay said: “Gordon Brown’s attempt to use the referendum as a springboard for his own political career speaks volumes.

“The referendum on Scotland’s future is bigger than any individual or any political party.”

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