Scottish Labour manifesto to highlight opposition to independence
Scottish Labour's opposition to independence is to feature prominently in the party's General Election manifesto.
Scottish Labour's opposition to independence is to feature prominently in the party's General Election manifesto.
The document, to be revealed in Edinburgh on Monday, will pledge to reject another referendum on the issue, and promise “never to support” Scotland leaving the United Kingdom.
It echoes the UK party manifesto, launched by leader Jeremy Corbyn last week, which also vowed to stand against the SNP's bid for another ballot.
Both Mr Corbyn and Scottish leader Kezia Dugdale claim Nicola Sturgeon's party has focused on independence at the expense of the day-to-day governance.
In her Scottish manifesto foreword, Ms Dugdale said: “Labour is the only party which knows it is the power of the whole UK working in partnership which benefits the many, not the few - that is at the root of our belief that together we're stronger.
“That is why Labour opposes independence and a second divisive independence referendum. Independence is not the answer to dealing with Scotland's flagging economy or our pressured public services.
“The SNP has one focus - independence. Labour will campaign tirelessly to ensure that the desire of the majority of Scots to remain part of the UK is respected.”
Mr Corbyn has previously said it would be wrong for Westminster to block a second referendum if the Scottish Parliament voted in favour of one.
He wrote in his foreword: “In Scotland, child poverty is increasing, the number of those working but still classified as poor is at its highest level since devolution, and health inequalities stubbornly persist. Rather than tackle poverty, the SNP obsesses over another reckless referendum that threatens people's futures.
“Labour is opposed to independence because it would inflict turbo-charged austerity on the Scottish people. We will stand firm in our opposition to a second referendum because we know that together we're stronger and unity is still our strength.”
The manifesto states that another vote on independence is “unwanted and unnecessary”, and with Labour pledging to campaign tirelessly to ensure that Scotland remains part of the UK”.
“The SNP needs to respect the verdict of the majority of Scots in 2014 and abandon its divisive plan to re-run the referendum,” it says.
Scottish Labour's focus on its opposition to independence comes as both the SNP and the Scottish Conservatives have sought to define the General Election as a two-horse race between their parties.
The Tories, who have squeezed Ms Dugdale's party into third place, have repeatedly led their campaigning on a hardline message of opposing another referendum.
Scottish Labour's manifesto will also include a series of pledges aimed at delivering “transformative change” in Scotland.
These include commitments to bring forward Member's Bills on banning MSPs from holding paid second jobs, extending breakfast clubs into every primary school, banning onshore fracking, improving access to sanitary products to tackle “period poverty” and scrapping the Offensive Behaviour at Football Act.