The SNP has called on Labour’s Leader in Scotland, Richard Leonard MSP, to “get on the right side of democracy,” after Labour’s Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell MP backed a second independence referendum, saying that "if the Scottish people decide they want a referendum, that's for them."
Mr McDonnell said that whether there should be a referendum “will be for the Scottish Parliament and the Scottish people to decide” in an interview with journalist Iain Dale in Edinburgh, adding:
"We would not block something like that. We would let the Scottish people decide. That's democracy.”
Polls show that 4 in 10 Labour voters support independence, proving that Mr Leonard is not only out of touch with Scottish voters, he’s out of touch with many of his own voters.
Kenneth Gibson MSP said:
“We need clarity from Mr Leonard.
“It’s a bit embarrassing that Westminster Labour politicians are keener on Scotland having a democratic choice than those at Holyrood.
“It’s no wonder that people across Scotland have given up on Mr Leonard’s party and why they are polling in single figures. Voters just can’t take them seriously anymore.
“More and more people are drawn to independence.
”Unless Labour at Holyrood joins the SNP in defending Scotland’s right to hold an independence referendum, they’ll be seen to again back the Tories, as they did in 2014 under “Better Together”’ and will continue their slide into complete irrelevance.”
ENDS
