Labour pains

Owen Smith has said that there is “no need or desire” for a second independence referendum. This came two days after he had told Radio Scotland he would not oppose one. Scottish Labour’s 2016 Holyrood manifesto pledge was to oppose a second referendum.

Back in April, Labour’s Scottish branch manager, Kezia Dugdale, said she would consider supporting independence if there had been a vote to leave the EU. In the aftermath of the Brexit vote, Scottish Labour held a summit at which the option of supporting a second independence referendum was discussed. Kezia even gave a speech saying it would be “categorically wrong” for the UK government to block a second referendum.

Since then Kezia Dugdale has said she is opposed to a second referendum.

Her deputy, Alex Rowley, has said he is not opposed to the holding of a second independence referendum. Frank Mcaveety and Anas Sarwar both oppose one and Jackie Baillie said “all options” were being looked at.

Meanwhile, Gordon Brown has again popped his head up to declare that what he promised during the last independence campaign (federalism) will be implemented if and when a second referendum is called.

So depending on what day it is and which person is asked, Labour is both in favour of and opposed to a second independence referendum. With such a farce it hard to understand why Owen Smith can’t fathom the fits of laughter that he endured when he said kezia was doing a “fantastic job”. ALAN HINNRICHS Gillespie Terrace

Dundee