Brown tripped up by Auld Enemy question

Announcing the launch of the English bid for the 2018 World Cup, Mr Brown said he hoped the host nation would win the tournament. When talking about the English, he repeatedly used the word "we". When asked what about the Scotland team, he said only that they would "do well."

Aware of the error, Mr Brown later tried to qualify his comments, insisting he would support Scotland in any game against England.

But the incident showed the difficulty the Chancellor is experiencing as he attempts to navigate between English and Scottish sensibilities, trying to position himself as UK prime minister in waiting while averting a debilitating Labour defeat at the Holyrood polls.

The SNP seized on Mr Brown's awkwardness, saying his stance would impress neither the Scottish nor English.

Polls show an increasing number of people in Scotland now consider themselves more Scottish than British.

Last year's World Cup generated heated exchanges after the First Minister, Jack McConnell, declared support for Trinidad and Tobago, one of England's opponents. The First Minister's move was meant to appeal to Scots who back anyone against the "Auld Enemy".

But Mr Brown has repeatedly ducked questions about his national identity, earlier this month telling The Scotsman he feels "British and Scottish". The Chancellor's latest comments came on the closing day of his tour of India, a visit he has used to establish his credentials as Britain's next leader. At a football charity project in Mumbai, Mr Brown confirmed he will support England's bid to host the 2018 tournament.

Referring to England's 1966 World Cup win, Mr Brown said: "It would be great. Fifty years after we had it before, it is the right time for England to have it. It means we have had the most magnificent sporting decade. The Olympics 2012. The World Cup 2018."

When asked in the BBC interview: "Who would you want to win the World Cup?", he replied: "I think the host."

When asked why not Scotland, he said: "Well of course Scotland will do well, but let's see how it all works out."

Later, as the Treasury spin machine realised the remarks could prove controversial, the Chancellor sought to clarify his position. He insisted his backing for England did not suggest any lack of support for Scotland.

Instead, he said, he would support England if the Scots either failed to qualify or were eliminated, the same position he said he took last year.

"The best thing would be a Scotland-England final," Mr Brown told reporters. "If there was a Scotland-England final, I hope everyone would know where my sympathies would lie." He added: "I've said before, if there's a Scotland-England final, I want Scotland."

Alex Salmond, the SNP leader, has repeatedly mocked Mr Brown for once appearing to suggest Paul Gascoigne's goal in England's win over Scotland in 1996 was his favourite footballing moment.

Last night, Mr Salmond said: "This is making Gordon Brown look ridiculous in Scotland and insincere in England.

"He is trying to ingratiate himself to an English audience, but people in England would have far more respect for him if he was honest and supported his own team."

Hamish Husband, a spokesman for the West of Scotland Tartan Army, said Mr Brown's verbal and political gymnastics were comical. "To want England to win and Scotland to do well beggars belief. We are beyond the angry stage now. It is extremely funny. I would be worried about someone like that becoming PM because his judgment has gone askew."

John Curtice, a professor of politics at the University of Strathclyde, said the comments were "par for the course" while Mr Brown tries to build popularity in England. But ultimately, since Mr Brown is already more popular in Scotland than he is in England, he can afford to upset the Scots occasionally.

"At the end of the day losing the Scottish electorate will be an embarrassment. Losing the English electorate could be a disaster."