Labour will fight the next general election pledging to block a second independence referendum, says Richard Leonard.
The party’s leader in Scotland said it is “my view” the manifesto will rule out a Labour government in London agreeing to another poll.
Scottish Labour is holding its annual conference this week in Dundee, which had the largest Yes backing in the country in 2014.
Asked if Jeremy Corbyn would commit to rejecting Indyref2, Mr Leonard told Sunday Politics Scotland: “My view is that the manifesto that we stand on at the next general election will contain a commitment that was contained in the 2017 manifesto, which is that we will not agree to a second independence referendum.”
On whether that meant the Labour government would block a plebiscite, he replied: “There is no appetite for it either.
“People want a Labour government to get on with the job of investing in public services, restoring the economy, addressing inequality, tackling homelessness.”
Pro-Union Labour supporters were dismayed in September when Jeremy Corybn said he would “decide at the time” whether to approve a Nicola Sturgeon request for another poll.
The Labour leader has given mixed signals on his Scottish independence stance, saying earlier this month in Glasgow that the constitutional question was “supposed to be a once in a lifetime decision”.
The expectation is the SNP would demand Westminster sign-off for Indyref2 as the price of Nationalist MPs propping up a Corbyn-led minority administration.
Mr Leonard’s prediction that Labour will not agree to Indyref2 in the manifesto follows remarks in December that the MSP was having to “fight with every sinew” for its inclusion.
The Scottish Conservatives said Mr Leonard will not stand up to either Mr Corbyn or Ms Sturgeon on independence.
Reacting to the interview, an SNP spokesman said: “Leonard was all over the place – and Labour’s refusal to accept that the people of Scotland have the right to choose their own future will simply condemn them to further election defeat.”
Maurice Golden, Scottish Conservative chief whip, said: “It is clear today that Nicola Sturgeon is planning a coalition with Corbyn and will demand a second independence referendum as her price.
“It is also quite clear that Richard Leonard’s role in all this will be to sit in the back seat and do what he’s told.”
Meanwhile, the Scottish Labour leader faced criticism from the leader of a trade union, which provides financial backing to the party.
Gary Smith, of GMB Scotland, said Scottish Labour is going backwards and described the strategy of “riding on the coat-tails of Corbyn” as a “recipe for failure”.
The spring conference at Caird Hall is set to run from Friday until Sunday.
It is set to discuss Dundee job losses, NHS Tayside’s financial issues and the impact of welfare cuts.
