Labour wouldn’t stand in the way of second Scottish independence referendum, Jeremy Corbyn claims
The party leader insisted Westminster shouldn't attempt to block another referendum if Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon wants to hold one
JEREMY Corbyn wouldn’t stand in the way of a second independence vote, he insisted yesterday.
The Labour leader insisted Westminster shouldn’t block another referendum if Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon wants to hold one.
She has repeatedly warned another ballot is “highly likely” after Scotland voted to remain in the EU.
When asked if a second vote was inevitable considering the gulf between the UK and Scottish government’s position on Brexit, Mr Corbyn said that “if a referendum is held then it is absolutely fine, it should be held”.
He added: “I don’t think it’s the job of Westminster or the Labour Party to prevent people holding referenda.”
Today Labour's Rebecca Long-Bailey said the party wouldn't want to "go against the will of the people".
She told the Andrew Marr Show: "If the Scottish parliament and the Scottish people wanted to hold a second referendum... We would advise Westminster not to block that.
But former Shadow Foreign Secretary Hillary Benn told ITV that the party was NOT in favour of another vote.
MOST READ IN POLITICS
Mr Corbyn has stressed any new devolved powers should go further than just Holyrood as “the SNP have a bit of a tendency to centralise things around themselves”.
After making the comments, Sturgeon tweeted: “Always a pleasure to have Jeremy Corbyn campaigning in Scotland”.
It comes at odds with Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale who doesn’t want a second vote.
Meanwhile, Scotland can be part of an “arc of prosperity” including other northern European nations under a Labour government, shadow chancellor John McDonnell has revealed.