Scottish Labour leader hits back in indyref2 row

Media playback is unsupported on your deviceRichard Leonard:"I am clear that the Labour Party's position at the moment is opposition to a second independence referendum."

His comments - which have been heavily criticised by several senior Scottish Labour figures - contradict the party's general election manifesto pledge to rule out a referendum, as well as previous public statements by Mr Leonard.Mr Leonard told BBC Scotland that Labour's official policy is still to oppose a referendum.

"So I think it's pretty clear where I stand, it's pretty clear where the membership of the Scottish Labour Party stand and that's the view that we'll be communicating. But Mr Leonard said his stance on a second referendum would only change if the will of the Scottish people was shown to be"demonstrably" different from 2014, when voters rejected independence by 55% to 45%.

However, Ms Sturgeon also stressed that she was"no great fan of Jeremy Corbyn" and said she"can't see the SNP going into formal coalition with Labour."Mr McDonnell has been interviewed in two separate Edinburgh Fringe events A Labour spokesman later insisted that Mr McDonnell was"clearly not advocating a second independence referendum" and had"made clear the huge benefit a UK Labour government will bring for the people of Scotland".

If the scots are inside the EU, and we are outside, then there will have to be a proper 'secure' border. There is no equivalent of the good Friday agreement here. Just think, passport control at Berwick.

BBCPolitics If Labour has come out and fought for Remain they wouldn’t be so frightened of losing their seats

BBCPolitics That’s just because they’re frightened to lose their seat He doesn’t even sound Scots !

This is what is making up Democratic policy in the US, do we want this for Labour?

BBCPolitics Quite simply a shambles!!! And who does McDonnell think he is the leader!!. Telling the country 'I'll put corbyn in a taxi to the Queen'!!. Watch your back grandad corbyn lol

BBCPolitics

BBCPolitics I really do wish that a second independence referendum could be called a second independence referendum rather than 'indyref2', most annoying.

Unbelievable yet again when faced with an incompetent government and with an electorate screaming out for leadership my party scores yet another own goal. So wrapped up in London based semantics the Labour leadership are unable wipe their own arse

BBCPolitics What a disgrace british farmers the farmers are saying leave Europe and tariffs to sell lambs abroad high so Britain would have mountain of excess lamb so to keep prices artificially high burn the carcasses British farmers you should be ashamed of your selves people starving

BBCPolitics I think a lot that our posting on here should remember,all the things you cherish,NHS,rights in the workplace,Devolution and more Labour delivered on.Yes they’ve made mistakes but the things you take for granted was Labour.SNP is all about themselves,don’t be fooled!

BBCPolitics Black people claiming discrimination at BA desk at Dutch airport I can hear them now ( your only doing this because we are black racist card again has anyone heard this before if being racist is bad then falsely accusing someone is bad and dealt with

BBCPolitics McDonnell is so wrapped in his London bubble, anything North of London doesn’t even register. Just ask northern MPs.

BBCPolitics I will translate for you “I’m being made to look like an out of touch liability by my Labour leaders in the main party”. No Richard, you’ve done that job well yourself.

Jeremy Corbyn & John McDonnells attitude towards Scotland has been pathetic. It’s no surprise they won’t fight for labour in Scotland as the Scottish people can spot a weak streak of pish a mile off. We’ve got a poor snp government, a Tory opposition (ffs).Labour need a clear out

How can we believe LabourRichard when he says Scotland doesn't want independence when he's never seen out on the streets? Does he disguise himself like Mrs Doubtfire and concuct secret surveys? Or maybe he's just another liar trying to keep his job, hoping the branch survives?

Well, that is Labour Lost to Scotland. Why did Scotlandvote MASSIVE! for snp 2015. Because Labour side by side with Tories to come up and tell the naughty little Scots to go back to bed and behave.

wet cabbage of a thing is Leonard. my last fart had more puff than him. He is living proof of what Scottish Labour is.....Useless, wet, soggy, pish

If the Labour Party was on TV , it will beat Eastenders and Coronation Street in the soap awards!!!

A party in disarray..* Oh .Jeremy Corbyn *...Flushing itself down the loo.

This labour leadership couldn’t have put Scottish people off voting labour more if they tried. I struggle to believe their attitude isn’t a deliberate. Only surprise is they had the balls to take a position on it.

All this indecision. No wonder the Labour vote collapsed in Brecon and Radnor by-election.

BBCScotlandNews are back to their old tricks just like last time eh!!

*£€¥79())₩00

Labour couldn't organise a p**sup in a brewery..does anyone of them have any idea what they are doing

Yet more disarray from the labour nasty party

LabourRichard is simply wrong on indyref2 Scotland is ready for it! And Labour is finished in Scotland!

This reflects the divisions that exist at every level in the Labour Party. If they were ever allowed to be in power, they would be too busy arguing and scheming against each other.

Gee, Labour even more chaotic than we thought. Great timing!

Be interesting to see how many Scottish Labour voters turn away from the Labour Party for a pro independence party.

There are both spend spend Nd not fit for office .

Everybody knows, or should know, that Labour in Scotland in a branch office....so no surprise that decisions affecting Labour in Scotland are taken in another country

Just goes to show how much labour hate Britain.

Who?

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