analysis

The decline of Labour in Scotland cannot be pinned on any one reason.

There was the “branch office” accusation, mistrust over public spending and the Iraq War. But above all Scottish Labour, the party of devolution, has struggled over the constitution.

It has been caught between the tub-thumping nationalism of the SNP and the Scottish Conservative’s selfproclaimed role as the defenders of the Union.

Labour has flirted with the idea of independence in the wake of the crossparty Better Together campaign, in which they, although victors, emerged heavily tainted by their association with the Conservatives.

Last year, Ms Dugdale said it was “not inconceivable” she could support independence if it could secure Scotland’s EU membership.

A few months later her deputy Alex Rowley said he would not oppose a second referendum.

The party’s manifesto ruled out support for independence, but caveated that with the suggestion it will be reviewed in 2021.

Labour says it is putting forward an alternative to the binary choice of independence or status quo that will appeal to both Yes and No voters.

Ms Dugdale’s federalism vision was backed by the party faithful at the conference in Perth.

It will be accompanied by questions over whether this is a downgrading of Labour’s pro-Union credentials, and she will seek to shake off those accusations by saying today she will “work tirelessly” to fight independence, as she insists she is “pro Union but not pro status quo”.

That is as clear as the Lothians MSP has been on backing the Union.

Less clear is whether pursuit of a federal option will win over voters, many of whom are already aligned to either Yes or No and the parties representing those camps.

There is little clarity to what Labour’s federalism means in practice.

It seems unlikely that a federation along national lines, with England taking up 85% of the UK population, could work.

Labour want a debate, but they need to tell potential voters what they are signing up for.