Richard Leonard has told Labour leadership contenders the Scottish party will decide its position on independence.
Leonard said yesterday he has spoken to UK leadership hopefuls and insisted the Scottish party must make the final call.
It came days after candidates including Jess Phillips and Lisa Nandy weighed in on Scotland’s future within the UK, voicing opposition to a second referendum.
Earlier this week, Leonard said he is in support of “home rule” for Scotland, which would see more powers devolved to Holyrood – similar to the “devo max” touted ahead of the 2014 vote as an alternative to independence.
Leonard said: “One of the things that I’m saying to all the leadership candidates in this contest is it’s good that they’re concentrating a lot of their messages on Scotland – that they understand if Labour is to win again, we have to win in Scotland.
“But I’m getting the message across that in the end, on the Scottish constitutional question, that will be decided by members of the Scottish Labour Party.”
The Scots party remains split on the issue, with a number of high-profile figures having spoken in support of a possible second independence referendum while others are against such a move.
Leonard has declined to back any of the candidates in the leadership race, adding: “I’m not planning on endorsing a candidate because I will have to work with whoever is elected.”
