Gordon Brown has revealed that he will be backing England at the World Cup.
He told journalists yesterday that he was “not like many Scots” who do not support the Auld Enemy at football tournaments, and that the rivalry was “less” than it was in past decades.
Asked if he would support England, the former prime minister said: “I actually did a poll with my children who are part of a football team, predicting who would get through the various groups, and my sons were incredibly surprised that I was saying England would get through, when very few people did.
“I’m not like many Scots who, when Scotland are not playing will not support England. I will support England if Scotland are not playing. But this rivalry is very much part of the Scottish psyche.”
He added: “There will always be a rivalry, but actually I think it’s far less than it ever was in the past.
“I think people are more realistic that your future as a nation is not decided, as I thought in 1961, by whether Scotland beat England.”