LABOUR WANT TO BLOCK INDYREF2
Leonard to confirm opposition to new poll
SCOTTISH Labour plans to harden its opposition to IndyRef2 after claims the party had a confused policy. Leader Richard Leonard will reject another vote - months after the UK party said it would not block one. A senior party source said: “There will be no equivocation.” In the early days of Leonard’s leadership, Scottish Labour was firmly opposed to a second referendum. But last year, then shadow chancellor John McDonnell said a Labour Government would not stand in the way of it. On a trip to
Edinburgh, McDonnell said: “We would let the Scottish people decide. That’s democracy.”
That came as a surprise to Leonard and fuelled accusations Scottish Labour was merely a branch office. McDonnell’s intervention also dogged the Scottish party during the general election and led to claims Labour was soft on IndyRef2.
But at a meeting of Scottish Labour’s governing executive tomorrow, Leonard will lead a discussion on his party’s constitutional position and is expected to stress his opposition to IndyRef2 and talk up his alternative position.This includes greater devolution and support for the creation of a UK-wide constitutional convention.
He is also expected to stress the importance of the economic and social changes that will be necessary after the pandemic.
The elevation of pro-Union Labour politicians is believed to have had an impact on the Scots party’s developing position.
MSP Jackie Baillie, who was a board member of Better Together, was recently elected as party deputy leader and is influential behind the scenes.
MP Ian Murray, a fierce critic of the SNP, is also Keir Starmer’s shadow Scotland secretary.
A Scottish Labour spokesperson confirmed tomorrow’s executive committee virtual meeting includes “an agenda item on the constitution”.
But SNP MSP George Adam said: “After the Tories’ Covid conga, we’re now having the Scottish Labour constitutional hokey-cokey.”