Is Gordon Brown being urged to return to frontline politics?

Gordon Brown will today lead the House of Commons debate on granting greater devolution to Scotland. But is he long for this chamber? According to reports, Brown is being urged to take up a major role in the Scottish Labour Party and stand for the Scottish Parliament.

Since his much-lauded speech the day before the referendum, Brown has taken an active role in the devolution agenda – even bringing forward a petition calling on politicians to keep the promises they made during the referendum campaign.

Now, with Nicola Sturgeon confirmed as the next SNP leader and First Minister, and Labour polling very poorly in Scotland, some are apparently attempting to cajole him back into a high-profile job. However, Brown ruled out a return to frontline politics less than a month ago.

Both today’s Sun and Daily Mail have stories on a potential return for Brown – although intriguingly, both come with the same quotes from anonymous sources:

“Gordon could go to the Scottish parliament for four or five years and become the father of the nation, like Donald Dewar was. He is still hugely popular in Scotland.”

The quotes appear to be anonymous because they also come with calls to oust embattled Scottish Labour leader Johann Lamont, leaving the possibility this is may be less about Brown, and more about factional infighting…