By Steve Bargeton, political editor

FURTHER RIDICULE was heaped on the Labour group of MSPs at Holyrood last night after they appeared to change their policy on an independence referendum—again!

After 10 days of confusion, which has split Labour north and south, they appear to have gone back on the position on a referendum adopted when leader Wendy Alexander said “bring it on” in a spectacular U-turn just last week.

Yesterday Ms Alexander left an hour-long meeting of the Labour group at Holyrood ignoring questions from reporters as colleagues were left to try to explain the latest stance.

Last week parliamentary group leader Duncan McNeil emerged from the weekly session announcing a radical policy shift from the entire Labour group, to back Ms Alexander’s plans to force a referendum.

He said then, “We are now in a position where, as a group, we will not vote down any referendum bill that comes before this Parliament.”

But after this week’s meeting he announced a new position.

“That doesn’t mean we are going to give up our right to scrutinise any bill,” he said.

Ms Alexander’s official spokesman made it clear that the guarantee of a free run for a referendum has been ditched.

“You can’t speculate on Parliamentary tactics three years down the road. It’s all to do with the wording and the timescale,” he said.

In a statement, Labour constitutional affairs spokesman Malcolm Chisholm claimed the SNP were “running scared” and were now at the mercy of his party’s parliamentary tactics.

“The SNP have run scared of any early referendum to end the uncertainty they have caused,” he said.

“We believe that the Scottish people have a right to have a say in the future of Scotland but as we made clear all of last week we are not going to give the SNP a blank cheque on the question, the voting system, the time-tabling or scrutiny of any bill.

“The SNP have turned down the chance to end the uncertainty facing Scotland and now will be at the mercy of Labour’s Parliamentary tactics.

“We will not support a voting system where potentially Scotland could leave the UK on a minority of the votes, as the SNP is now advocating.

“Scots deserve a fair choice on a fair question.”

Last night the Labour Party faced ridicule from their political opponents over the latest twist in their public humiliation over the issue.

Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said, “Those whom the gods seek to destroy they first render ridiculous and Labour in the Scottish Parliament, led by Wendy Alexander, is now utterly ridiculous. Wendy Alexander must accept responsibility for this ludicrous series of U-turns that have left Labour turned inside out.”

Ms Sturgeon added, “Gordon Brown had the election that never was. Labour are now trying to pretend last week never happened—the week that never was.

“Wendy Alexander has been utterly humiliated by the Labour group who have effectively U-turned on her farcical U-turn—‘bring it on’ has been brought down, and Labour must now be very close to bringing Wendy Alexander down as their Holyrood leader. Her position is now impossible and completely untenable.

“The SNP will deliver our manifesto pledge to bring forward a bill for an independence referendum in 2010.

“If Labour have now dumped the McNeil Declaration not to stand in the way of a referendum, then they will pay a heavy price at the next election for denying the people the right to choose their own future—whoever is their leader.”

Scottish Tory chief whip David McLetchie likened Labour’s referendum saga to an episode of Dallas.

“Scottish Labour would have us believe that the last 10 disastrous days never happened,” he said.

“Every twist, every U-turn, every denial and every attempt to pass the buck is on record. What a shambles Labour has become, not fit for purpose and not fit to defend the union.

“Whereas Pam woke up to find that Bobby was still alive, the same cannot now be said of Scottish Labour as a credible opposition in this Parliament.

“Not only is this Labour fiasco damaging to the union, but it has completely sidelined the job we are here to do—holding the SNP to account.”

Scottish Lib Dem leader Nicol Stephen said, “The Labour Party’s behaviour over the last week has been bizarre and bewildering.

“Wendy Alexander’s flip-flop on the referendum and the consequent failure of the Prime Minister to support her has plunged her party into chaos.

“Today, the Labour Party has made a seventh attempt to redefine the conditions in which they would support a referendum.

“Anyone trying to keep pace with Labour’s ever-changing position would be driven to dizziness. No wonder nobody knows what Labour stand for anymore.

“Is Labour going to vote for a referendum or not? The question is simple but Labour are unable to answer.

“On an issue of such importance…this chaos and uncertainty is both dangerous and very damaging.”