Split emerges in Labour party as Rowley is rebuffed on ‘home rule’
ByAndrew Liddle
Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale.
A split has emerged at the top of Scottish Labour as Alex Rowley’s public call for a fresh look at the constitution was rebuffed by Kezia Dugdale.
The party’s deputy leader suggested their electoral embarrassment last week was inevitable because they failed to advocate “home rule for Scotland”.
Alex Rowley lost his Cowdenbeath seat at the election last week.
Mr Rowley, who lost his seat of Cowdenbeath last week but was returned to Holyrood as a regional MSP, said it was “illogical” to try and move on from the constitutional debate when “the country has not”.
He claimed he had urged the party leadership to argue for sweeping new powers in addition to those already devolved, but had been rebuffed.
A source close to Scottish leader Ms Dugdale confirmed Mr Rowley had advocated his “long held position” of arguing for greater devolution but shot down any thoughts of a rethink following the crash into third place at Holyrood behind the Tories.
The insider said: “There are no plans to delve back into our position on the constitution.”
Split emerges in Labour party as Rowley is rebuffed on ‘home rule’
