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Gordon Brown said today he is ready to take on Boris Johnson in a head-to-head EU debate as he called for “positive” messages to win over Labour voters.

In a barnstorming speech for the 'Remain' campaign, the former Labour Prime Minister slammed Mr Johnson for constantly changing his mind over whether he supports the EU.

And asked if he would be prepared to debate the ex-Mayor in a TV head-to-head, Mr Brown grinned: “'I'm happy to take anybody on these days.”

The former PM was speaking in London at the launch of his new book setting out a personal case for why Britain is better off inside the EU.

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In what was his first major speech of the referendum campaign Mr Brown said Labour voters will be key to winning the poll on June 23 and said only a 'positive' message will win them round.

(Image: PA)

Highlighting the “remarkable” role the EU has played in securing peace in Europe since 1945, he said: "There is no century except this one where Europe has been at peace.

“What is happened in the years since the Second World War is not a temporary truce.

“It is not simply a ceasefire.

“Instead of battling with weapons and armaments, people battle only with arguments and ideas.

“We've managed to find a way of making decisions that prevents conflict arising – there has been no war between European members at any point in the last 70 years.

“We have not just exchanged swords for ploughshares – we have made it possible so that people think swords will never be used again.”

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But despite this positive message Mr Brown warned the modern world “feels like a runaway train” to many people and is fuelling nationalism and xenophobia around the world.

“Globalisation feels like a runaway train, out of control,” he said.

“It heightens the insecurity people feel about the future. It reawakens in people a need to belong.”

But he said staying in the EU was “the best way to secure the jobs of the future, perhaps the only way to deal with tax havens... and the best way to deal with terrorism and the causes of terrorism.”

The former PM was also quick to tear into the 'Leave' campaign's main spokespeople, top Tories Mr Johnson and Michael Gove.

Ridiculing Mr Johnson's flip-flopping on whether he supports the EU, Mr Brown said: “Boris is making statements today set against statements he made two years ago five years ago."

And highlighting Justice Secretary Mr Gove's claim that Britain could be more like Albania if it operates outside the EU, Mr Brown laughed: “Even the President of Albania wants us to remain in the EU.

"When you look at this argument, it does not add up.”