John McDonnell slammed by own MP for “thoughtless rant” on Scottish independence
John McDonnell has come under attack from his own party after saying Labour would not stand in the way of a second independence referendum in Scotland.
Speaking at an Edinburgh Fringe event yesterday, shadow chancellor McDonnell said the party was split on the issue, but would not stand in its way.
“We would not block something like that,” he told interviewer and publisher Iain Dale. “We would let the Scottish people decide. That’s democracy.”
Although there were “other views within the party” he said the leadership had “our view”.
McDonnell added: “It will be for the Scottish parliament and the Scottish people to decide that. They will take a view about whether they want another referendum. Nicola Sturgeon said by late next year or the beginning of 2021.
His comments come in the wake of a recent poll, carried out by Lord Ashcroft’s strategy group, which found that 52 per cent of Scottish voters now back independence.
The Conservative government has insisted the 2014 independence referendum had settled the matter, but the prospect of a no-deal Brexit is forcing the issue back up the agenda.
However under the Scotland Act, UK government must grant Holyrood the right to hold another plebiscite.
McDonnell’s comments were condemned by members of his own party.
Scottish Labour MP Ian Murray, said it was an “utterly irresponsible thoughtless rant”.
He added: “The Labour party is an internationalist party founded on a vision of solidarity and we should never seek to appease nationalists, whether they be for Brexit or Scottish independence, who want to divide communities and people.
“John McDonnell has even bought into the nationalist narrative that Westminster is an ‘English parliament’, in an insult to the hard work carried out by Scottish MPs from every party.”