The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Labour Party divided yet again after leader’s indyref2 comment
split: Politicians line up to reject Jeremy Corbyn’s stance on plebiscite
Brutal infighting has again broken out within Labour, after Jeremy Corbyn was defied by MPs for saying it would be “absolutely fine” to hold a second Scottish independence referendum.
The UK leader incurred the wrath of many party members in Scotland for his comments during an economy event in Glasgow on Saturday, but the anger spread to TV studios yesterday.
Hilary Benn, who chairs the Brexit select committee, told ITV’s Peston on Sunday it is Labour policy to oppose another independence referendum.
He said: “Our position, the position of the Labour Party in Scotland, is that we are not in favour of a second referendum, and that the most important point to make is that all the indications are that the people of Scotland are not in favour of a second referendum.”
Sir Keir Starmer, the shadow Brexit secretary, also distanced himself from Mr Corbyn’s comments.
Both Tom Watson, the UK deputy leader and John McDonnell, the shadow chancellor, appeared to contradict Mr Corbyn’s position in interviews which took place before the intervention.
Mr McDonnell told Sunday Politics Scotland: “How can we make a decision on something when we don’t even know what the contents of it is?
“We can’t vote for a pig in a poke, we want to see what the details are.”
Mr Watson, meanwhile, was asked by The Sunday Post if he would vote against a second indyref at Westminster. He said: “Yes, I think that it was settled in the referendum.”
Only Rebecca Long-Bailey, the shadow business secretary, held firm with Mr Corbyn’s stance, saying that blocking a second referendum at Westminster, if Holyrood had backed it, would be stopping “the democratic will of the people”.
Conservative leader Ruth Davidson, who has also said MPs should not block a second referendum, said: “The Labour leader has demonstrated that he is happy to let the SNP roll over him.”
SNP MSP Stuart McMillan said: “The deep internal divisions of the Labour Party are reaching a point of no return.”
Scottish Labour was forced to issue a clarification after Mr Corbyn’s intervention. A spokesman said: “Scottish Labour is firmly opposed to a second referendum. Our country is divided enough and we will vote against any SNP plans for another divisive referendum.”