GORDON Brown is to launch an unprecedented “Save the Union” campaign because he fears the march of Scottish nationalism is becoming unstoppable.

The prime minister told a strategy meeting of ministers at Downing Street that the United Kingdom could only be held together if pro-Union business leaders, academics and civic bodies acted now.

He also proposes to create a network of London-style mayors in English regions to appease mounting resentment against devolution south of the border.

Fearful of the momentum the Scottish National party has built over the past year, Brown convened an emergency summit at the end of January to halt its progress. Jack Straw, the justice secretary, Alistair Darling, the chancellor, and Des Browne, the Scottish secretary, all attended.

A leaked account of the meeting, seen by The Sunday Times, reveals Brown's concerns for the future of the United Kingdom. As well as enlisting captains of industry, academics, politicians and voluntary groups to promote the merits of the Union, Brown also plans to poll different parts of the UK on their attitudes towards separatism so that Labour can draft locally relevant counter-arguments.

Fears among ministers of “emerging tensions” caused by perceptions of inequality in different parts of the UK were also aired. Health and education were cited as examples, with the

abolition of university tuition fees for Scots, while English students continue to pay, said to be causing particular discontent.

Straw warned about concerns in England over Scots receiving 20% more in public spending per head than the English. Brown agreed that such pressure “could not be ignored” and agreed to review how public spending is shared across Britain.

Yesterday Wendy Alexander, the Scottish Labour leader[, sought to play down the nationalist threat when she addressed the party conference in Aviemore, accusing the SNP of incompetence and dishonesty.

“Just in case anyone is in doubt, I will lead Labour back to power in the Scottish parliament,” she told delegates.

However her fightback was undermined by Lord Moonie, the former Labour armed forces minister, who accused Brown and Alexander of fuelling demand for independence by promoting the cause of more powers for Holyrood.

The peer, who donated £500 to Alexander’s leadership campaign last year, described the pair as “intellectually incompetent”, likening their proposed constitutional commission to the appeasement of the Nazi regime by Neville Chamberlain before the second world war broke out.

“You are either in favour of independence or you are in favour of the Union,” he said. “This policy of appeasement, Chamberlain tried it in the Thirties. It didn’t work. It ain’t going to work now.”

His comments follow criticism from Brian Wilson, the former energy minister, who accused Alexander and Brown of pursuing “a nationalist agenda” of benefit to the SNP.

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