Sturgeon: ‘Dugdale told me she would not oppose indyref2’
● Scottish Labour leader denies that she agreed to withdraw opposition to independence referendum in wake of Brexit vote
Nicola Sturgeon last night said Kezia Dugdale promised that Labour would not stand in the way of a second referendum during a private conversation last year.
The SNP leader claimed the Scottish Labour leader said she would drop her opposition to another poll during a stormy leaders’ debate hosted by STV.
According to Ms Sturgeon, Ms Dugdale made the offer in the aftermath of the Brexit vote last June.
The SNP leader said a referendum would give Scotland a “choice” between independence and a hard Brexit.
She added: “You [Dugdale] used to agree with me on that. You and I spoke the day after the EU referendum and you told me then that you thought the change with Brexit meant that Labour should stop opposing a referendum.”
The claim made less than 36 hours before voters go to the polls for the general election tomorrow, was disputed by Labour.
Nevertheless, the claim risks severely undermining the credibility of Labour’s strategy on the constitution.
Ms Dugdale has made great play of her opposition to another vote in the run-up to the general election, despite Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn suggesting he would be open to talking with the SNP on the issue should he make it to Downing Street.
Ms Sturgeon’s account of the discussion was described as a “bombshell” by the Scottish Tories who have based their campaign on being the party most implacably opposed to independence.
The First Minister’s claim was also pounced on by Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson during the hourand-a-half “Scotland Debates” programmebroadcastinfront of a 130-strong studio audience in the Tron Theatre, Glasgow.
Ms Davidson asked Ms Sturgeon: “Did you just tell people you had a private conversation with Kez Dugdale last June where she said she was going to drop Labour’s opposition to independence?”
Ms Sturgeon replied: “She said that she thought that Brexit changed everything and that she didn’t think Labour could any longer go on opposing a second independence referendum.
“She was entitled to change her mind, I accept that but what I don’t think any politician is entitled to do is to deny people in Scotland a choice about their own future.”
Last night the Scottish Conservatives attempted to capitalise on the revelation as campaigning reaches its final stages.
The party’s constitution spokesman Adam Tomkins said: “This is a bombshell revelation which holes Scottish Labour’s entire campaign below the waterline.
“Kezia Dugdale has spent this campaign claiming she opposes a second independence referendum, now we learn she’s been having private chats with Nicola Sturgeon about her support for it.
“It is an utter disgrace and it proves that the only pro-uk vote at this election is for the Scottish Conservatives.”
Ms Sturgeon’s account of her private conversation with Ms Dugdale was disputed by the Labour leader, who described it as “absolute nonsense”.
Ms Dugdale admitted that a discussion had taken place about Brexit. But she said: “The idea that I would do anything other than protect the United Kingdom is absolute nonsense.”
Later a Labour spokesman said: “This is a lie from Nicola Sturgeon. It is insulting and demeaning to the office of First Minister. It is nothing but a final act of desperation from an SNP leader who knows the public has turned against her. It shows how far she is prepared to go in the hope of electing a Tory government.
“Kezia Dugdale campaigned tirelessly against independence in the 2014 referendum. She has always campaigned tirelessly against a divisive second independence referendum. The Labour Party will never support independence because of the turbo-charged austerity it would inflict on working people in Scotland.”
The final Scottish debate of the campaign was held last night following its postponement in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks on Manchester. The opening exchanges were dominated by the question of a second independence referendum with Ms Sturgeon facing calls to cancel her plans for a second vote.
The pro-union leaders all promised that a vote for their parties would take indyref2 off the table and warned of the consequences of holding another one.