Gordon Brown has slammed UK and Scottish leaders for scrapping over flags in the middle of a jobs crisis.
The former PM said Boris Johnson is "blissfully unaware" of the need to reach out to devolved administrations. And he sharply criticised the Tories for trying "simply badge" everything with a Union Jack.
Brown, who wants a longer furlough scheme from the UK government, also called for the SNP to set rivalries aside to keep the economy afloat in a time of turmoil.
In an article printed in full below, Brown argues: "Some argue that this crisis has simply exposed the real underlying problem that will not go away - that the Union is embroiled in a fight to the finish between conservative unionism and nationalism."
Brown adds: "But any examination of the everyday problems families are facing show that, as far as the public is concerned, the real dividing line in our politics is much more basic: it is whether, out of common decency and compassion, leaders who really should recognise the need to work together to secure the best results, are prepared to set rivalries aside for the time being in the interests of getting help urgently to those in need."
The call to action is set out in a report published today by Brown’s think tank Our Scottish Future.
A Scottish Government spokesman repeated calls for the UK not to withdraw the furlough scheme, which covers most of an employee's wages.
"The UK Government should follow the example of countries like Germany by extending furlough - and if they fail to do so then the necessary financial powers should be transferred to Scotland so that we can take the action needed here," the spokesman said.
