The favourite to succeed Jeremy as the next Labour leader has said the relationship with the Scottish party must be “reset”.
Sir Keir Starmer insisted constitutional policy will not be “imposed” on - a coded dig at the Corbyn leadership.
Starmer is one of in the running to become leader, but he is widely regarded as the frontrunner.
Ahead of a visit to Scotland, he used an exclusive article in the to back federalism for the UK.
This would require a new constitutional settlement involving all the UK’s nations and regions.
On independence, the shadow Brexit Secretary wrote that he does not want Scotland to “leave” the UK and said there is “no evidence” of “overwhelming public support” for IndyRef2.
However, his article did not touch on what Labour under his leadership would do if the pro-independence parties won a majority next year.
His piece also addressed the troubled relationship between the party in London and .
Until the summer, Scottish Labour was staunchly opposed to IndyRef2 and offered no support to the SNP for another vote.
John McDonnell, the shadow chancellor, angered Scottish colleagues by ditching this policy on a trip to Edinburgh when he said a Labour Government would not block a referendum.
The U-turn, made without consultation with Leonard, resurrected toxic claims of being a mere “branch office”.
Starmer wrote: “It’s self-evident Scotland’s relationship with the cannot rest on the status quo. There is deadlock when we need change.
“Labour must change too. We have to reset the relationship between UK Labour and Scottish Labour. Our constitutional position will be made in partnership between Scottish Labour and UK Labour, not imposed.”
