Holyrood should have the power to ban arm sales and block wars involving Scottish troops, according to a left-wing Labour MSP.
Katy Clark believes devolving powers over foreign affairs and defence should be part of a package of measures designed to boost the parliament’s powers.
Scottish Labour under Anas Sarwar ’s leadership is opposed to indyref2 and believes the current Holyrood term should focus on post-covid recovery.
However, internal critics believe Sarwar’s approach will fail to win back voters lost to the SNP and they urge a rethink.
Figures such as former MSP Neil Findlay argue that Labour should back a multi-option referendum, which would include independence and greater powers for the Parliament.
The so-called devo max option would include fresh economic powers and a new book on Scotland’s constitutional future by the left-wing Red Paper Collective has fleshed out proposals for a ‘third option’ on the ballot.
In her chapter, West of Scotland MSP Clark makes the case for Holyrood effectively having veto powers over national security.
She wrote: “Whilst it is true that there are policy areas where the majority views of political representatives across the UK align, lightning rod issues like Trident and unpopular wars such as Iraq have effectively been recruiting sergeants for the cause of independence.
“The principle of the union between the nations should be based on the consent of each nation… North of the border, this could require that political decisions relating to defence which specifically affect Scotland – including major decisions on the Trident nuclear weapons system – to also require the consent of the Scottish Parliament or the block of Westminster MPs representing Scottish constituencies in the House of Commons.”
Labour Peer Pauline Bryan, who edited the book, said: “The choices on Scotland’s future are for the people of Scotland to make, but the binary divisiveness is sucking the air out of politics, to the detriment of jobs and public services.
“It is clear that should there be a future referendum it must be on the basis of three options; status quo, radical change short of independence and independence.
“And if Labour is ever to recover its connection with Scotland’s working-class communities it must embrace a platform for self-determination and radically expanded powers rather than continuing the uber-unionism that has turned so many former voters away.”
Scottish Labour declined to comment.
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