EVEN SELL OUT BROWN IS TOO SCOTTISH!

Gordon Brown has been trying to stress his pride in being British, but he is viewed very much as Scottish

Anti-Scottish feeling laid bare over question of next Prime Minister

Story in full GORDON Brown is facing a vociferous English backlash in his bid to become Prime Minister, according to a poll published today. The ICM survey reveals a majority of English voters believe the Labour Party would be less appealing with a Scottish leader.

The Chancellor has worked hard over the past year to project himself as a British, not a Scottish, politician, stressing his commitment to the Union and his pride in being British.

But he is seen by the public as a Scottish MP who wants to become Prime Minister and, after the devolution settlement and the problems that has caused in England, this has led to resentment.
The poll, for the More 4 show Starkey's Last Word, provides the first real evidence of just how strong anti-Scottish feelings are in England.

A total of 59 per cent of English voters said they would be "influenced" at the next election by the presence of a Scottish Labour leader. Of these, an overwhelming 93 per cent said they would be influenced in a negative way, and only 7 per cent said the influence would be positive.
The anti-Scottish feeling was even more pronounced among older people. Of the English pensioners who would be influenced by a Scottish Labour leader, 97 per cent said that influence would be negative.

Mr Brown is well aware that he cannot afford to lose the votes of any wavering voters in England. Of the 75 Labour marginal seats - defined as those where the party's majority is less than 10 per cent - 71 are in England.

The backlash has been caused, in part, by what is seen as the unfairness of the devolution settlement, which allows Scottish MPs to play their part in imposing domestic policies on England that are not imposed on their own constituents.

This so-called West Lothian Question, and the perception that Scotland does better financially than England, have caused resentment. But it is not only Mr Brown who would suffer from the anti-Scottish backlash. John Reid, the Home Secretary, has been named as a potential contender for the Labour leadership when Tony Blair retires. As a Scot and a Lanarkshire MP, he would have the same problem as Mr Brown.

[This proves that Scots are not considered equal within the British union. It's taken the absurd actions of carpet bagger Brown to show this up but obviously post devolution the English don't want a Scots PM even if he's willing to sell his soul, pretend to admire Gazza and waves the Union Jack till his fingers bleed.

If they react like this to a sell out Scot like Gordon Brown how would they react if one who was actually proud to be Scottish had a chance of becoming British PM?

Time for the sharp exit. JOE

PS: If Brown does have his ambitions dashed as PM because of his Scottish identity I wouldn't be surprised if he had the brass neck to suddenly embrace the Saltire and go for wee Jack's job. I would also not be surprised if he eventually changed his tune on independence - this is a man for whom ambition is everything, and he knows the real figures about who subsides who. It will be very interesting to watch his reaction when his fellow Brits tell him to p*ss off. If these polls continue then that is what's going to happen.]