MP accuses Corbyn of selling out after backing Scottish separation
JEREMY CORBYN supported calls for Scottish independence, a Scottish Nationalist MP has claimed.
Mhairi Black, 23, the youngest ever MP elected to Parliament, has claimed that the Labour leader has “sold his soul over independence” after allegedly telling her in private that he backed her party’s cause.
Last night, sources close to Mr Corbyn rejected the allegation as “complete nonsense”. However, the claims will likely add to unease among Labour moderates, several of whom have previously expressed concerns over his stance on the union.
Adam Tomkins, the Tory MSP for Glasgow, said: “This is yet more confirmation that Labour isn’t just soft on the independence issue, it doesn’t even care. Labour leaders on both side of the border paid unconvincing lip service to the importance of the union, yet behind the scenes would vote Yes in a heartbeat.”
Last year, Mr Corbyn stirred controversy among his own MPS when he said it would be “absolutely fine” to hold a second referendum.
He later clarified that Labour was not in favour of another poll.
Mr Corbyn has also criticised Labour’s decision to join forces with Better Together, a cross-party group campaigning for Scotland to stay part of the UK, during the 2014 independence referendum.
In an interview with The Huffington Post, Ms Black alleged that Mr Corbyn has sold out on his principles, as she also attacked him for his about-turn on scrapping Trident and failing to bring an end to austerity.
“He is hypocritical about what arguments he applies where and when,” she added. “I’m raging. He has totally sold his soul, especially in terms of Scotland. He has sold out in terms of Scottish independence – because I know that he doesn’t believe the things he says about independence now.”
Asked to substantiate her claims, she said that she had learned of Mr Corbyn’s support for independence “from talking to him”.
Last night, a source close to Mr Corbyn told The Daily Telegraph the allegations were “untrue” and without evidence, adding: “I’m sure they’ve had conversations before. But the claim that he’s a supporter of Scottish independence is complete nonsense.
“Her claims are incredibly weak and it’s not clear what conversations she’s referring to.”