Time running out to save the UK, PM warned by Brown and mayors
Former prime minister Gordon Brown and a band of regional English mayors have written to Boris Johnson to urge him to "save" the Union by handing out greater powers to its nations.
The politicians have warned the Prime Minister that "time is fast running out" to keep the UK intact and argued that the way to protect it was to create a more federal Britain.
Mr Brown said the letter, coordinated by Sheffield City Region mayor Dan Jarvis and backed by his London counter part SadiqKh an, Greater Manchester's Andy Burnham and Liverpool' s Steve R otheram, should serve as a" wakeup call for us all ".
The S NP has argued that a majority at the Holy rood elections next year would give them a mandate for a second independence referendum.
It comes after the Prime Minister was said to have told Tory MPS last month that devolution to Scotland had been a "disaster".
In the letter, the politicians said: "The United Kingdom is in great danger.
"Recent polls show a clear trend towards Scots losing faith in the Union and a majority of Britons believe the UK is heading for break-up.
"That should be a clamorous wake-up call for us to examine the status quo.
"We believe the aim should be a more federal Britain of nations and regions, a free and equal partnership with stronger devolution bringing power closer to the people, especially in England.
"We have the chance not just
top reserve our Union, but to create the extraordinary legacy of a more harmonious, united and democratic Britain for us all.
"Time is fast running out. We can still save our country but we need to act now."
Ex-labour leader Mr Brown said: "This intervention shows that the appetite for change and reform cuts across the UK. There is momentum and interest to build an alternative to the status quo.
"This letter is intended as a wake-up call for us all. It's a call for a national conversation.
"It's a call, rather than break our country apart, for us to try to solve our differences."
The SNP'S Pete Wishart told Mr Johnson at Prime Minister's Questions yesterday that he was "probably the biggest single recruiting sergeant that we have" following his decision to lead the Brexit vote and recent comments on devolution.
Meanwhile SirKeir St armer postponed a speech on devolution amid concerns it could be overshadowed by the end stages of Brexit trade negotiations with the EU. The Labour leader had been due to detail his plans to revive party support in Scotland during an address to Edinburgh University tomorrow. But this has been derailed by the drama surrounding trade negotiations with Brussels, with the potential this week
for Boris Johnson to declare whether there will be a deal. Would-be attendees were emailed :" Due to the likelihood of a clash with major Br exit dev el op ments,Keir St arm er is no longer able to deliver the John P Mackintosh Lecture this Friday. "We know that Keir remains fully committed to delivering this lecture. We hop e to re - schedule in the new year.”