New Corbyn gaffe as he says Indyref 2 will be ‘absolutely f ine’
JEREMY Corbyn yesterday handed the SNP a ‘massive propaganda coup’ by saying that a second independence referendum would be ‘absolutely fine’.
During a visit to Scotland, the UK Labour leader also promised his MPs would not oppose it at the Commons.
Asked if another separation vote was now inevitable, he said: ‘If a referendum is held then it is absolutely fine, it should be held. I don’t think it’s the job of Westminster or the Labour Party to prevent people holding referenda.’
He added that if there was a vote in the Commons on whether Scotland should have another referendum, Labour ‘wouldn’t block it’.
Scots Labour leader Kezia Dugdale, who missed the Labour ‘New Economics’ conference in Glasgow yesterday due to a family illness, has repeatedly warned Scotland should not be divided by another independence referendum, and has vowed to ‘work tirelessly’ to defend the Union.
Last night, one senior Scottish Labour figure said: ‘Jeremy Corbyn has just handed the SNP a massive propaganda coup... he’s also given a huge boost to the Tories – by making them look like the only viable pro-Union party in Scotland.’
Another predicted Scots Tory council election leaflets would now be reprinted with Mr Corbyn’s words, and the claim Labour cannot be trusted to stand up for the Union.
Mr Corbyn’s comments were seized upon by Nicola Sturgeon, who tweeted in response to his quote: ‘Always a pleasure to have Jeremy Corbyn campaigning in Scotland’ – along with a ‘laughing’ emoji.
But Labour MPs were horrified. Ian Murray, Labour’s only remaining MP in Scotland, tweeted: ‘Often asked why I resigned from Shadow Cabinet. Ladies and gentlemen I give you Jeremy Corbyn. He’s destroying the party.’
A source close to Mr Corbyn said: ‘Westminster blocking a second referendum would give the SNP exactly what they want – more grievance.
‘Kezia Dugdale is absolutely right to oppose a second referendum at Holyrood and to keep the pressure on Nicola Sturgeon to rule one out.’
‘He’s given a huge boost to the Tories’
THERESA May will attempt to thwart Nicola Sturgeon’s independence bid by blocking any referendum until after Brexit.
The Prime Minister believes it is not fair to ask voters to choose until they know what life will be like outside the EU, The Scottish Mail on Sunday understands.
That would mean no vote until after March 2019, at the earliest.
But No 10 believes the complexity of Brexit, and the time needed to arrange another independence referendum, could push it back beyond the 2021 Scottish elections.
Miss Sturgeon would then need to return another pro-independence majority after 14 years in government. The revelation is a huge blow to the First Minister – just days before SNP conference – as she has said another vote in autumn 2018 would be ‘common sense’.
The UK Government’s position ends any faint hope she may have had of Scotland staying in the EU, by declaring independence before the UK leaves.
Miss Sturgeon also faces growing criticism among her own pro-independence supporters, days before the SNP conference in Aberdeen.
Former SNP deputy leader Jim Sillars has warned her to stop using the ‘lexicon of fear’ over Brexit.
And Free Church minister David Robertson, who voted Yes in 2014, has launched a Scottish parliament petition warning that the country cannot afford another ‘lengthy, divisive and bitter campaign’.
Until now, the UK Government has refused to be drawn on whether it would agree to another independence referendum.
The 2014 vote was only made possible by the Edinburgh Agreement, signed by David Cameron and Alex Salmond.
It is understood No 10 believes a second referendum is not inevitable but expects Miss Sturgeon to advance the case at her party conference on Saturday.
If she asks for the power to hold another vote, the UK Government will not refuse outright, but will insist it is held after the UK has left the EU. Article 50 is supposed to be triggered this month, with divorce to be finalised two years later – by March 2019. However, both dates could be subject to delay.
The UK Government is wary of a second referendum scheduled immediately after March 2019, because it would allow a shadow independence campaign to run at the same time as Brexit talks.
They fear that could be used as a bargaining chip by the EU.
Meanwhile, the SNP would still have to draw up its own case for independence, get legislation through Holyrood and leave time for the six-month campaign period required by the Electoral Commission. The UK Government believes it may not have time to do all this before the next Scottish parliament elections in 2021.
Both Mr Sillars and Mr Robertson want another independence referendum but fear the SNP’s tactics and timing are wrong.
In an open letter, Mr Sillars wrote: ‘Yes cannot afford to lose again, and lose we shall if the timing is wrong.
‘The Yes movement may be willing to fight a referendum now, but it is not ready.
‘Where is the critical analysis of why we lost in 2014 and what we need to put right?’
Mr Sillars campaigned for Brexit and has said he will not vote for independence again if it means joining the EU.
In his petition, Mr Robertson wrote: ‘I am really concerned about the potential for division, bitterness and waste of time and money that a second independence referendum will undoubtedly cause.
‘Yet another referendum (the third in four years) for the sake of party politics is not a good idea.’
A recent poll showed support for independence had risen to 49 per cent but backing for another vote has remained low.
Murdo Fraser, Scottish Tory finance spokesman, said: ‘Nicola Sturgeon’s reckless attempt to rush to a referendum is opposed by people who voted No and Yes.’
An SNP spokesman: ‘Scotland voted clearly and decisively to remain in the EU – not for an economically disastrous Tory hard Brexit outside the single market.
‘The Scottish Government has a cast-iron democratic mandate for an independence referendum.
‘It was a specific manifesto commitment on which the SNP was re-elected just ten months ago.’