GORDON Brown has written a book about Scotland, Britain and the Union, which is due to be published in the coming weeks.

While his office declined to be drawn on "My Scotland, Our Britain", the work, as the title suggests, is a personal reflection from the former Prime Minister on what it means to be Scottish and British in the modern United Kingdom.

Mr Brown, who during his time at No 10 regularly promoted the importance of the Union and has become a key figure in Labour's referendum campaign, is due to explain the background to his latest book at the Borders Book Festival in Melrose, which runs from June 12 to 15. Mr Brown will make an appearance on the Saturday.

The festival organisers say the Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath MP's appearance will be a "landmark moment in the independence debate" as Mr Brown will talk about his "vision of Scottishness, Britishness, the unique nature of the Union, how it might change and how Scotland might lead Britain, not leave it".

As revealed last month, the ex-premier is becoming more involved in the referendum campaign as part of United with Labour with a string of speeches and a tour of Scotland.

Next Tuesday, the Labour grandee will deliver another keynote speech in Glasgow as part of his tour to promote his "vision for a modern Scotland".

This speech will be given under the auspices of the Better Together campaign, while a week later he will deliver another one, this time as part of the United with Labour campaign, in his constituency.

"I am of the view that the party that first created a powerful Scottish Parliament is best placed to strengthen devolution and to create a stronger Scottish Parliament in a stronger United Kingdom," said Mr Brown.