Mr Brown argued unionism is “sleepwalking into oblivion” in an article for The Observer, as a result of tensions stirred up by the UK’s EU exit. A recent poll suggested 52 percent of Scots would vote to leave the UK in a second independence referendum. Sinn Fein has also called for a referendum in Northern Ireland on departing the UK and joining the Irish Republic.

The departure of Scotland alone would see the British union lose 32 percent of its territory and 8 percent of its population.

There would also be serious questions about the UK’s nuclear weapons, which are currently at Faslane.

In his article Mr Brown commented: “We must recognise that nationalism is now driving British politics.

“Only as an outward looking, tolerant, fair minded and pragmatic people can Britain recover its cohesion and common purpose.

“These precious ideals could not survive the divisiveness and chaos of a no-deal Brexit.

“To prevent the rise and rise of dysfunctional nationalism the first step is to stop no-deal in its tracks.”

Mr Brown played a key role in the pro-UK ’No’ campaign during the 2014 independence referendum.

Boris Johnson has insisted Britain will leave the EU on October 31, with or without an exit deal.

However he is likely to face fierce opposition from opposition parties, as well as some of his own backbenchers, within Parliament.

Mr Johnson has vowed to strengthen the union between England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland; which he has dubbed the “awesome foursome”.

He has also appointed himself “Minister for the Union”, a newly created role.

In 2017 Theresa May blocked Nicola Sturgeon’s call for another referendum on Scotland’s membership of the British union.

Source: Read Full Article