GORDON Brown delivered a highly charged speech the day before the poll urging voters to stand up for Scotland within the United Kingdom.

At a Better Together rally in Maryhill, the former Prime Minister told voters that the SNP and Yes campaign did not have a monopoly on patriotism and the successes of the UK should not be thrown away.

He told the packed Glasgow hall: "Let us tell the undecided, the waver-ers, those yet to vote. We fought two world wars together. When men from Scotland, England, Wales and Ireland were injured they came to each other's aid. Then we built the peace together, built the NHS and the welfare state together and we will build the future together.

"What we have, let no nationalist split asunder."

Mr Brown spoke to around 500 people, closing a rally which heard from comedian and Labour supporter Eddie Izzard.

He said: "It's now get the vote out time, 81% of the rest of the UK want you to vote No.

"I have carried the Saltire in eight marathons through Scotland. I just want you to be happy.

"Glasgow was the first city in the world to give Nelson Mandela freedom of the city saying no to apartheid. You can say no to poverty pay and the break up of the UK."

The rally heard from Better Together leader Alistair Darling who said: "We are all firmly patriotic and proud of the county in which we live.

"I am clear my head and heart say no thank you to the risks of separation."

The crowd heard impassioned speeches from No supporters including a trainee oral surgeon, a shipyard worker and a 16-year-old first-time voter.

Paul Sweeney, who works for BAE on the Clyde said he came from a ship-building family.

He said: "There are fam-ilies in Barrow and Belfast who are shipbuilding families just like mine. They are not my competit-ors they are my comrades.

"Shipbuilding isn't just our history it's a vital part of our future.

"Alex Salmond hears the facts but he speaks half truths. His failure to offer a credible plan for ship-building treats us with contempt."

The pro-union party Scottish leaders Johann Lamont, Ruth Davidson and Willie Rennie also gave final messages.

Mr Brown ended with a passionate plea to people he said may be wavering because they heard argu-ments they cannot be proud Scots if the vote No.

He said: "Tell them Scot-land does not belong to the SNP. Tell them, Scotland does not belong to the Yes campaign, that it doesn't belong to Mr Salmond or Mr Swinney or to me or any other politician.

"Tell them - Scotland belongs to all of us. And tell the Nationalists, it's not their flag, their culture, their country or their streets. Tell them it's everyone's flag, everyone's culture, everyone's country and everyone's streets.

"And tell them that our patriotic vision is bigger than nationalism; we want Scotland not leaving the UK, but leading the UK, and through leading the UK, leading in the world.

"And tell the undecided, the unsure, those thinking of voting Yes today but who can be persuaded to vote No tomorrow. Tell them we who vote No love Scotland."

stewart.paterson@ eveningtimes.co.uk