MP gives backing to a ‘Plan B’

● Need for Westminster’s permission to hold referendum would be by-passed in move branded an outrage by opponents

A Nationalist MP has said refusal of Westminster to grant an second independence referendum “necessitates a Plan B” which would see breakaway talks after an SNP election victory.

Douglas Chapman, the Dunfermline and West Fife MP, is throwing his weight behind a motion among party activists which would see a majority for Nationalist parties at the next Holyrood or Westminster election provide a mandate for the Scottish Government to open negotiations on independence.

Tensions over the prospect of a second referendum have rocked Scottish Labour the past week, with the party’s general secretary Brian Roy announcing his departure to pursue “new challenges.”

It came after shadow chancellor John Mcdonnell announced this week in Edinburgh that Labour at Westminster would not block a second referendum.

It is being brought before SNP conference in autumn by Western Isles MP Angus Macneil and Chris Mceleny and has the backing of MP Lisa Cameron, as well as MSP Christine Grahame. Mr Chapman told the National newspaper: “All the signs are that a right-wing Tory government are not going to play ball over another Edinburgh Agreement.” He added: “These circumstances necessitate a Plan B and in the absence of agreement with the UK on a second independence referendum, then pro-independence parties winning a majority of Scottish seats in an UK or Scottish election is a pragmatic way to expressing the legitimacy of our right to self-determination.”

The Scottish Government requires a Section 30 order from Westminster, which has control over the constitution, to stage a second referendum on independence. But this has so far been rejected by the Tory government.

But the pressure has been stepped up in the past week after Mr Mcdonnell said Labour would not block a second vote on independence if Holyrood and the people backed it, while a shock poll suggested there is now a majority (52 per cent-48 per cent) of Scots who back independence.

But Pamela Nash, chief executive of Scotland in Union, branded the supporters of the conference motion “fanatical” and accused them of trying to get independence “through the back door.”

She added: “This would be a democratic outrage. Scotland’s future is in Scotland’s hands, and the people of Scotland have rejected independence in a once-in-a-generation referendum that Nicola Sturgeon accepted was the ‘gold standard’.”

The latest blow for Scottish Labour saw Mr Roy announce he was quitting as the party’s most senior official just a day after the party was engulfed by infighting among MSPS.

He says he wants to move on to “new challenges”, but it comes after a furious row broke out in the Scottish party ranks over a second independence referendum. Mr Mcdonnell said Labour would not block a referendum if it was the will of Holyrood and the people earlier this week. The Scottish Parliamentary Labour party issued a stinging rebuke yesterday which said Mr Mcdonnell had undermined Scottish leader Richard Leonard – but left-wing MSP Neil Findlay hit back accusing PLP chair Jackie Baillie of abusing her position.

Mr Roy has worked for the party for 12 years under seven Scottish leaders.

He said: “It is time for me to move on to new challenges.”

Mr Leonard praised his “dedication and hard work” for the party over the last 12 years.

“His extensive knowledge of, and loyalty to, the Labour Party, and his passion for our values, remains undiminished,” he said.

“This would be a democratic outrage

... the people of Scotland have rejected independence in a once-in-a-generation referendum”

PAMELA NASH