Labour will oppose a second independence referendum in their next general election manifesto, says Richard Leonard.
The party’s leader in Scotland has shot down the prospect of a Labour government in Westminster approving Indyref2, just days after Jeremy Corbyn refused to rule out doing so.
Speaking at their Liverpool conference, Mr Leonard will say: “We don’t need another independence referendum to change Scotland, as far as I am concerned– we’ve just had one.
“The majority of people do not want one, and as we meet here this week with the prospect of a general election, I can make clear today that the next Labour manifesto will oppose another independence referendum.”
Angering pro-Union Labour MSPs, Mr Corbyn said on Thursday he would make a decision on whether to approve a request from Holyrood for another vote if and when it arose.
He added: “I’m not ruling it out – I’m just pointing out the reality.
“We don’t want another referendum, we don’t think another referendum is a good idea, and we’ll be very clear on why we don’t think it’s a good idea.”
Both Scottish and UK manifestos from 2016 and 2017 made clear Labour’s opposition to Indyref2.
The next general election manifesto would cover the term of the parliament, which is five years under the Fixed Term Parliaments Act.
Reacting to the manifesto commitment, Nicola Sturgeon tweeted: “Scottish Labour’s determination to remain alienated from swathes of its previous support as it attempts to out Tory the Tories on #Indy shows no sign of abating. Which can only be good news for the SNP.”
