The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
Labour to ‘respect’ decision on new independence vote
Labour MPs will “respect” the Scottish Parliament’s decision on a second independence referendum, according to the party’s deputy leader.
MSPs are today poised to give Nicola Sturgeon their backing for a fresh poll on the constitution.
On a visit to Edinburgh’s Serenity Cafe, where leftwing Labour group Momentum met a fewmonths ago, Tom Watson said his party were against another vote, but would not defy Holyrood’s will.
He said: “There is not an appetite for the referendum, wedon’t want the referendum. But obviously, if it ends up in the Westminster Parliament, we will respect the decision of the Scottish Parliament.”
In an interview last month, Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale repeatedly refused to say whether MPs should block aHolyrood demand for another referendum.
The first minister is askingMSPs to give her amandate to demand Theresa May approves a section 30 order, which would temporarily transfer the power to hold a referendum from Westminster to Holyrood.
The Scottish Government is all but certain to win tonight’s vote.
Mr Watson, who is in Scotland campaigning for May’s council elections, was asked whether the local vote would serve as a proxy ballot for the constitution.
He responded that voters were “very sophisticated”.
Meanwhile, Labour’s shadowBrexit SecretarySir Keir Starmer said: “The prime minister’s failure to engage with the Scottish Government or to recognise specific and particular concerns has provided an excuse for the SNP to press ahead with its divisive call for a second referendum.”