Labour MP Ian Murray calls for EU resolution within the UK
Scottish Labour has urged the UK and Scottish governments to find a way to keep Scotland in the European Union (EU) without leaving the United Kingdom.
Scottish Labour has urged the UK and Scottish governments to find a way to keep Scotland in the European Union (EU) without leaving the United Kingdom.
MP Ian Murray, who was appointed Scottish Labour's Westminster spokesman following his resignation from Jeremy Corbyn's UK Labour shadow cabinet, said the SNP's plans for another independence referendum is causing more uncertainty.
Nicola Sturgeon has pledged to consider all options to keep Scotland in the EU and has stressed she will only call another referendum if she finds these options sub-optimal.
Prime Minister Theresa May has described some of the proposals to keep Scotland in the EU as "impracticable'' but has offered to listen to any options the First Minister comes forward with.
She said she will not trigger the formal Article 50 process to leave the EU until she has UK-wide agreement on the way forward.
Mr Murray said Labour is "the only party that wants Scotland to maintain its relationship with the EU and the UK''.
He will lead a House of Commons debate on Brexit negotiations and call on the UK Government to fully involve the Scottish Government and other devolved nations.
Speaking ahead of the debate, Mr Murray said: "The Scottish people have given the UK and Scottish governments two mandates that must be respected.
"They have voted in overwhelming numbers to maintain our relationship with both the UK and the EU.
"Labour is the only party that wants Scotland to maintain its relationship with the EU and the UK. That is what everyone should be working tirelessly to achieve.
"We have given Nicola Sturgeon our support to find a deal that meets the needs of the people of Scotland and we welcomed Theresa May's statement that she is seeking a cross UK position on negotiations with the EU.
"It is essential that any negotiations fully involve not just the Scottish Government, but the Welsh and Northern Irish governments and the London Assembly.
"This is not the time for creating more uncertainty with talk of another independence referendum or establishing a new Scottish currency.
"There should only be one priority now - fulfilling the will of the people of Scotland to remain in the EU and the UK.''