Indyref2: Starmer refuses to rule out backing Scotland referendum

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Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has refused to rule out the possibility of supporting a second referendum on Scottish independence in the long term.

But he told the BBC a vote like the one held in 2014 was “not needed” soon and the focus should be on “rebuilding” the economy and services after coronavirus.

His party would not campaign for a referendum in next May’s Scottish Parliament elections, he added.

The SNP government in Scotland wants to hold one as soon as possible.

In an interview with BBC political editor Laura Kuenssberg, Sir Keir also said Labour would “betray” voters “if we don’t take more seriously winning elections and actually changing lives”.

And he argued Prime Minister Boris Johnson did not have “the right character” to deal with the challenges posed by the pandemic.

When Scotland’s voters were asked in a referendum in 2014 whether the country should become independent, 55% said no.

But the SNP has campaigned for a second poll since the UK’s 2016 decision - in the Brexit referendum - to leave the EU.

It says the difference between the UK-wide result and that in Scotland - which chose by 62% to 38% to remain within the bloc - strengthens the case for independence.

It has also been suggested that, following the next UK general election, expected in 2024, Labour could need the support of the SNP if it wants to form a government. This might, it is added, require a deal on having another referendum.

Sir Keir said: “We will be going into that election in May making it very clear that another divisive referendum on independence in Scotland is not what is needed.

“What is needed is an intense focus on rebuilding the economy, on making sure public services are rebuilt as well and dealing with the pandemic.”

‘Hypothetical’

Pressed on what would happen after May, Sir Keir said: “We don’t know… In politics, people tell you with great certainty what is going to happen next year and the year after, but it doesn’t always turn out that way.”

He added: “I am setting out the argument we will make into May. I am not doing a hypothetical of what will happen after that.”

The Scottish government, led by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, had hoped to hold an independence referendum during the current term of the Scottish Parliament.

However, ministers wanted to secure an agreement with the UK government to make sure any vote would be legally watertight, something Mr Johnson has repeatedly stated his opposition to.

Work on preparations for a ballot was paused after coronavirus hit, but the Scottish government has promised to set out plans in a draft bill.

Labour, once dominant in Scotland, currently has 23 Members of the Scottish Parliament, putting it third behind the SNP, on 61, and the Conservatives, on 31.

Union concerns

Sir Keir replaced Jeremy Corbyn as Labour leader in April, following the party’s worst general election result - in terms of seats - since 1935.

Recent UK opinion polls have suggested support for the party under his stewardship is now close to that for Mr Johnson’s Conservatives.

But some trade unions, including Unite and the Fire Brigades Union (FBU), have raised concerns over Sir Keir’s leadership.

The FBU has warned him not to “water down” pledges on workers’ rights and the environment that he made when running for the job.

In his speech on Monday to Labour’s annual conference, Sir Keir told his party to “get serious about winning”.

Speaking to Laura Kuenssberg, he said: “When you lose four elections in a row, you have lost the chance to change lives for the better and we have gifted the Tories a decade or more of power. That is not what the Labour Party is there for.”

He also said: “The Labour Party’s historic mission was to represent working people in Parliament and to form governments to change lives, and we betray that if we don’t take more seriously winning elections and actually changing lives.”

Sir Keir is due to make a televised address at 20:00, in response to the prime minister’s statement on Tuesday on the government’s new coronavirus measures for England.