Former prime minister Gordon Brown has said the contribution made by those who come to Britain from other countries "is something that is worth celebrating."

But Mr Brown said supporters of the European union should have been "taking on" arguments about immigration "a lot earlier."

Mr Brown began his speech at the Glasgow's Emirates Arena, a venue from the 2014 Commonwealth Games, by paying tribute to Labour MP Jo Cox, calling on people ensure that her life "has not been in vain".

He described the murdered MP as being "my friend, everybody's friend" and added: "She believed our strength came through our diversity, that we have far more in common than anything that ever divided us."

He added: "As we mourn Jo's death and celebrate her life, I think we realise the common bonds that bind us all together.

"What divides us is far less important that what unites us and we must ensure that Jo Cox's life has not been in vain, that we will fight hate not with hate but by overcoming hate, and we will work together to end the prejudice, discrimination and intolerance which has led to the loss of a young life."

The former Labour leader hit out at the poster unveiled by Ukip leader Nigel Farage last week which showed a queue of immigrants with the slogan "Breaking Point".

Mr Brown insisted pro-EU campaigners "should have been taking on these arguments a lot earlier", telling the audience: "When we have challenges that come from immigration, pressures on public services, and people rightly say that the hospitals are under pressure and the schools are under pressure in a particular area where there is a high rise in population and something should be done.

"The answer is to invest in the National Health Service, to build up your schools, to pay for the public amenities. The blame is attached to the Conservative Government who should be taking action to relieve the pressure on these services."

The former prime minister added: "I want to make a case this evening that hasn't been made enough during this campaign, about the contribution that people who are sometimes refugees, sometimes asylum seekers, people who are migrants and immigrants, make to our country.

"We know that we have skills that we would not otherwise have had, doctors and nurses we would not have in our health service.

"We know that there is a huge contribution in culture, we know that diversity gives us strength, and it is time to say that the contribution that people who have come from other countries make to our country is something that we applaud, something that is worth celebrating."

Brown was accused however of teaming up with David Cameron to "produce scare stories" by Scottish Vote Leave.

The organisation's spokesperson also argued the European Union "destroys jobs" instead of creating them.

The spokesperson said: "It seems like Gordon has decided to team up with David Cameron to produce scare stories about the future of Scottish jobs. I find it strange he argues the EU helps create jobs when Greece suffers from youth unemployment at 50%, with Spain at a similar level. The EU has caused economic devastation to vast swathes of Europe.

"The EU destroys jobs, both here and abroad. In industry, in fishing, and in agriculture. The EU suppresses wages for the poorest people in Glasgow and across Scotland through uncontrolled EU migration, which adds yet more pressure to housing and hospitals.

"Inside the EU we have no control. We have no control over our borders, and Jeremy Corbyn has accepted there can be no limit on EU migration. We have no control over our money, Scotland sends £30m a week to Brussels enough to hire 1400 new nurses every week, and we have no control over our laws.

He continued: "The biggest risk to Scotland's economy is voting remain, and being attached to a failing eurozone and forced to fork out for more bailouts. If we remain we are forced to accept an unlimited number of EU migrants which is expected to cost the Scottish NHS £600m by 2030, and forced to accept the destruction of our fishing fleet.

"It's clear, Scotland's economy would be safer outside the EU. Securing free trade deals with the rest of the world and freeing ourselves from a failing European Superstate"

Voters will go to the polls on Thursday to decide if Britain should Remain or Leave the European Union.