GORDON BROWN has accused the SNP of "perpetrating a lie" about the NHS in an independent Scotland.

The former Prime Minister made the claim during a speech in Clydebank Town Hall, where he was joined by former Chancellor Alistair Darling and local MSP Jackie Baillie.

Mr Brown urged voters to avoid a "messy and expensive divorce" by voting No at the polls.

Focusing primarily on the NHS and his views on the importance of the Union, Mr Brown accused the SNP of using the health service as a "battering ram" and told the audience: "They are not telling you the truth."

He said: "The NHS lie of the Scottish National Party has been exposed.

"The Scottish Parliament can keep the NHS in public hands with its existing powers.

"With its existing powers the Scottish Parliament can fund the National Health Service if it so wishes up to the level it wants.

"The biggest threat is they (the SNP) are going to allow £450 million in cuts to take place that they haven't announced before the referendum but will announce in the days after the referendum.

"If the SNP continue to say they are powerless to protect the NHS in Scotland, let them make way for a Labour Government in Scotland and we will protect the NHS."

His comments followed reports of a leaked document by NHS finance directors which said health service bosses would need to make £450m of cutbacks in the next two years.

During his 30-minute speech Mr Brown claimed the only support Alex Salmond had was from North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and media tycoon Rupert Murdoch.

Mr Brown added: "Two days away, and Alex Salmond is still refusing to answer what independence would mean.

"He can't even tell us what currency we will be using two days before we go to the polls."

Mr Brown said Scotland needed change, but added: "I think people are going to come to the conclusion the change they really want is to have a Scottish Parliament as part of the UK, not the change the SNP want, which is the chaos of a separate state."

Addressing any undecided voters, Mr Brown said: "There is no alternative in my view but considering a patriotic No vote.

"If you don't know, if you haven't had your questions answered, if you have doubts about what is being said, if there are problems that are not being addressed by the Scottish National Party, if you don't know, you must consider now voting No.

"If you agree with us that co-operation is better than conflict between nations, if you agree with us that sharing is the way forward for the future, then please persuade all your friends in these last vital 48 hours that the only way forward is safer change, faster change, fairer change."

Finally, he said a vote for independence would "end every single constitutional link" between Scotland and the UK, claiming it would impact jobs, the defence system, currency and pensions.

He said: "The effect if you vote Yes is to end every single last remaining link that exists - the connections we have, with our friends, neighbours and relatives."

hannah.rodger@ eveningtimes.co.uk