Corbyn would reject independence referendum request, says Scottish Labour Leader
Richard Leonard has said Jeremy Corbyn will refuse a request for an independence referendum.
SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon has said she intends to submit a Section 30 order by the end of this year, allowing the Scottish Government to hold a second vote on independence.
Mr Leonard made the comments during the Scotland's Talk-In show on Clyde 2, he was asked how the Labour leader would deal with the request, should he be in Downing Street when it is made.
The Scottish Labour leader did, however, say a majority for pro-independence parties in Scotland in 2021 would be a mandate for a second vote.
He said: "He's going to deal with it and say no.
"The SNP doesn't have a mandate for a second independence referendum.''
"We are saying that we oppose the creation of a separate Scottish state.
"We oppose independence and we therefore are opposed to the holding of a second referendum.
"The reason for that is we think it will be economically devastating.''
Mr Leonard said the question of independence is not one that would be a "priority'' for a Labour government.
He said: "Our priorities are to solve austerity, to fix the mess that we're in with Brexit and to start to turn around the economy and understand that there's a climate change challenge before us.''
Mr Leonard did, however, say the "battle'' over the holding of another referendum would be "won or lost in Scotland'', during the Holyrood elections in 2021 or beyond.
He added: "If as a result of those elections, as there was in 2011, there was an overwhelming majority and a clear demonstration of support for a party that was in favour of holding a second independence referendum, then Jeremy Corbyn has said a UK Government will not block it.''
Mr Leonard also said the policies of a Labour government would take away the need for a second vote, saying: "If there is a Labour government elected on Thursday, the chances of there being continued support for independence will wane substantially.
"Because the circumstances behind which the SNP have picked up any support has been because we've had 10 years of grinding austerity.''
Earlier on the same show, Deputy First Minister John Swinney refused to rule out taking legal action if the Section 30 order was rejected.
He said: "All we're asking, is for political leaders in the UK to respect the important constitutional tradition of the sovereignty of the people of Scotland and allowing the people of Scotland to decide on their own future.
"That, to me, is a very simple, straightforward position, it's been accepted across the board for many years.''
When pressed on the response to a rejection of the order, Mr Swinney did not rule out the possibility of court action.
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