LABOUR INDYREF2 CIVIL WAR
Moderates blast leaders for worst result in living memory
SCOTTISH Labour’s IndyRef2 civil war has intensified after party moderates criticised demands by senior figures to back a second referendum.
Glasgow MSP Anas Sarwar dismissed the calls as “rash” and colleague Colin Smyth said the position would leave the public wondering where Labour stood.
Labour in Scotland came fourth at the General Election after losing six of their seven MPs to the SNP, fuelling concerns about the party’s future. Their latest defeat prompted Shadow Health Secretary Monica Lennon to argue Labour should embrace IndyRef2, rather than opposing another vote.
She said Holyrood, not the UK Government, should make the final call on another referendum, adding: “The SNP blueprint for independence is flawed and will disappoint many progressive Scots who are fed-up with austerity.
“Nevertheless, the future of Scotland must be decided by the people of Scotland.”
Her view was backed up by defeated Labour MP Ged Killen, while senior councillor Alison Evison went further by saying IndyRef2 should take place.
However, Sarwar, who lost the leadership race to Richard Leonard in 2017, blasted: “I see some ‘key figures’ in @scottishlabour are jumping to join the false choice of Boris’ Britain v Sturgeon’s Scotland.
“This does nothing to reject the divisive visions of both and hold together those that believe in the principles of unity, solidarity, equality and redistribution.
“Rather than making rash pronouncements on #IndyRef2, I think we need a genuine period of reflection and some humility from those who led us to our worst EU election result and worst General Election result in living memory.”