No Magic Johnson

I read a report yesterday which said that Gordon Brown - the sometime MP for Fife - is facing growing calls to sing up as part of a 'dream team' to oppose independence in the forthcoming Scottish referendum.

Now I missed the explanation about who exactly is clamouring for Gordon Brown to get on board - I'm certainly not.

In fact I think it would be a disastrous move for a whole number of reasons.

Firstly, Gordon is not much of a team player - turns out he spent the best part of 10 years trying to undermine his pal - Tony Blair - yet when he got his chance at the top job Godon fluffed it big time.

Secondly, Gordon is far too hostile towards the Scottish nationalists and would want to run a very negative campaign - instead of accepting that the SNP are widely accepted to have done a good job in the Scottish Parliament - which is why they won a handsome majority in 2011.

Thirdly, Gordon is pre-occupied with other things - such as spending 70 days a year  Abu Dhabi campus of the Univeristy of New York - and hardly has time to fulfil his commitments at the House of Commons - never mind leading a campaign against Scottish independence.

I might have a different view of the former Labour leader if he turned his back on Westminster - and decided to stand for election to a future Scottish Parliament.


Because that would be a bold risk and would signal a real commitment to Scotland - which I'm sad to say there's little sign of at the moment.

So I would go back to the drawing board.

History is littered with dream teams which were never formed - or just didn't cut the mustard when they finally did appear on the same side - just look at the Scotland football teams from the 1970s.

And whatever his supporters think - Gordon Brown ain't no Magic Johnson or Michael Jordan when it comes to politics.