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Scottish Labour sidesteps Brexit split with UK party


Scottish Labour has formally backed calls for a second referendum on Brexit but, echoing the UK leadership, done little to reassure Remainers that the party is ready to mount a serious push for such a vote.

Ahead of a crucial week of Westminster votes on Brexit, Scottish Labour leaders used their spring conference to focus attention more on long-term socialist policy proposals such as a new wealth tax and free bus travel. 

The gathering of Scottish Labour, which is largely autonomous on policy from the UK party, on Sunday backed a leadership statement insisting a general election would still be the “best outcome” if the UK parliament this week rejects both prime minister Theresa May’s Brexit deal and a no-deal exit from the EU. 

“If we cannot get a general election Labour must support all options remaining on the table, including campaigning for a public vote,” the statement said. 

Scotland voted by 62 per cent to 38 to remain in the EU in 2016 and some party members fear that failure to oppose Brexit risks further losing support to the more overtly pro-European Scottish National party

The conference did not have a dedicated Brexit debate. Instead the topic was mixed in with Palestinian and Venezuelan issues in a discussion entitled “Scotland’s place in the world”.

Ian Murray, a Scottish Labour member of the UK parliament, told a fringe meeting on Saturday the party leadership should enthusiastically back an amendment by backbench Labour MPs Peter Kyle and Phil Wilson that would make approval for Mrs May’s Brexit deal contingent on a second referendum. 

“Now it’s time to step up,” said Mr Murray, who believes the amendment will fail unless Labour MPs are ordered to back it and shadow ministers sacked if they refuse. “The Labour party hasn’t even picked up the car keys,” he said. 

Jeremy Corbyn, UK Labour leader, offered conspicuously lukewarm support for a second referendum in his Scottish conference speech on Friday.

“We are ready for a general election, and we will support a public vote to prevent disaster,” Mr Corbyn said, reading the second part of the sentence much more rapidly and in a markedly quieter voice than the first part. 

Paul Sweeney, another Scottish MP who supports a second referendum, defended Mr Corbyn’s approach, saying he was taking into account the concerns of Labour MPs from areas that voted to leave the EU. 

“I think he is genuinely trying to listen to the mood of the [Parliamentary Labour party] and trying to build consensus slowly and deliberately . . . in a way that is actually not pissing people off,” Mr Sweeney said. 

Richard Leonard, Scottish Labour leader, used the Dundee conference to highlight what he sees as a return to its radical socialist roots.

In his conference speech on Saturday, Mr Leonard called for an annual wealth tax on the rich and free bus travel for all. He also promised to “take on the vested interests” of the “landed class” who own large swaths of Scotland, citing by name Danish fashion retailer Anders Povlsen and the Duke of Buccleuch.



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