A former First Minster has said Scottish Labour should press for another independence referendum to save the party.
Henry McLeish, who led the country for Labour in 2000/01, said they must take the constitutional fight to the Tories and SNP by advocating a “new alternative of real home rule”.
He said Scottish Labour’s future is at stake if it does not put forward a clear position on the independence question.
The former Fife MP told the Herald: “We have got to accept that just saying no to independence is not a strategy or solution.
“If we accept that, we can go on to develop a credible path forward for Labour that gives the public the debate they want.
“There should come a time when Labour has the courage and confidence to take the Tories and SNP on over the constitution.
“We should be offering up a referendum on a new alternative of real home rule.
“People might say that’s a bold option, and yes it is. But I can’t see an alternative way forward and if we’re serious about Scotland’s future, people deserve choices.
Mr McLeish, who has spoken out after his party lost a third of its seats in Thursday’s election, wants Labour to advance a case for a federal system, which would transfer significantly more powers to a Scotland that remains part of the UK.
Earlier, the party’s deputy leader Alex Rowley, who is also in favour of home rule, said that unless Labour tackles the constitution it cannot move on from its disastrous defeat to both the SNP and the Tories at the polls.
Mr McLeish said Scots are undecided on their future because they have not been won over by either the “grudging concessions from Westminster or straight independence” arguments.
“I believe Labour’s future lies in unlocking a door to a more viable path, ridding the country of this narrow debate. Scots have not been given a viable, sustainable, attractive alternative to independence,” Mr McLeish added.
“Be in no doubt, unless we can get an audience on Scotland’s constitutional future, and take people with us, for Labour there is no future.”
