Scottish Labour expected to outline position on second indyref in spring

Scottish Labour will consider whether to back a second Scottish independence referendum.

The party’s leader, Richard Leonard, told his front bench team at Holyrood on Monday that he wants to engage with party members on the matter.

A decision on whether to change Scottish Labour's current stance of opposing a second independence vote could then be made during spring.

Some within the party have suggested that it reviews its position on whether another referendum should be held, with First Minister Nicola Sturgeon having submitted a Section 30 request to Boris Johnson at the end of last year.

A report in the Guardian on Thursday claimed that Mr Leonard was set to reverse his position, with a party source telling the newspaper:

“Labour would be more willing to consider supporting a second referendum if it was multi-option”.

However, a Scottish Labour source told the PA News Agency that it was incorrect to suggest a reversal in Mr Leonard's stance.

“It is simply not true that Richard Leonard has reversed his position,” they said.

“Richard is leading Scottish Labour into a review of the general election result and its implications for Scottish Labour's constitutional offer.

“Richard outlined his proposals for the timescale of our decision-making process to the shadow cabinet on Monday, but it is for the SEC to decide on how this goes forward.

“Richard wants to engage with Scottish Labour members about the party's position with a view to the party taking a decision in the spring on a position we can unite behind going into the 2021 Scottish Parliament elections.”

The SNP said that Labour would do well to “get on the right side of history” on the issue.

A spokesman for the party said: “Scottish Labour's failure to accept the overwhelming democratic mandate for Scotland to choose its own future is just one of the reasons the party has been abandoned by so many people.

“The fact that some Labour politicians recognise this and have called on their party to accept fundamental democratic principles is welcome.

“Boris Johnson's bid to subvert democracy by blocking a referendum is not a sustainable position, and Scottish Labour would do well to get on the right side of this argument and on the right side of history.”

Scottish Conservative chief whip Maurice Golden said that the move represented a “disgraceful sell-out” of those who voted No in 2014.

“This indicates Labour's long and painful surrender to the SNP,” said Mr Golden.

“Ever since the independence referendum, they just haven't been serious about Scotland's place in the union.

“Now Richard Leonard has confirmed his willingness to break it up altogether.

“This move is a disgraceful sell out of the two million No voters, many of whom identified as lifelong Labour supporters.

“But those people can be assured the Scottish Conservatives will never turn our back on them or the UK.”