THE SNP claimed today that Chancellor Gordon Brown had been humiliated after businesses refused to sign a letter asking them to declare their opposition to Scottish independence.

THE SNP claimed today that Chancellor Gordon Brown had been humiliated after businesses refused to sign a letter asking them to declare their opposition to Scottish independence.

A round-robin letter sent out by Labour recently asked companies to support the union.

But the nationalists say the anti-independence letter has now had to be withdrawn because Labour couldn't get people to sign it.

The row broke as Mr Brown visited Scotstoun shipyard to underline the strength of the Scottish economy and speak to young apprentices.

SNP Deputy Leader Nicola Sturgeon claimed her party's "positive" campaign had galvanised support among the business community and across Scottish society.

She added: "The fact that Labour have withdrawn this fake business letter, written by a Labour special adviser, circulated by Labour's general secretary - which even sought the support of Tories - because they could not get business people to support it, speaks volumes for the crisis that Labour's campaign is in. On the day that he comes to Scotland to scaremonger about the SNP, this is a complete humiliation for Gordon Brown.

"Nothing that he says will have any credibility when Labour can't get any business people to support their negative and failing campaign."

SNP campaign manager Angus Robertson has written to the UK Cabinet Secretary and to the Chairman of the Electoral Commission regarding possible improper use of Government resources in connection with the issue of the letter.