If there’s anything consistent about Scottish politics, it’s that sooner or later the conversation will always return to independence. After winning a striking number of nationalists’ votes in today’s Rutherglen by-election, it was only a matter of time before Labour were quizzed on their constitutional stance.
Sir Keir Starmer and Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar arrived in the constituency this morning to a rally riddled with technical hitches and bin lorries dumping rubbish in the background. Not exactly the ‘fresh start’ Labour promised…
Their new MP Michael Shanks enjoyed a victory lap before Starmer weighed in, fielding questions from the press. But the Labour leader’s answer on the constitutional question might have several of his new yellow-turned-red supporters rethinking their decision…
‘The independence referendum is the last thing that anybody should be focused on,’ the Labour leader declared to reporters today. ‘The SNP has got its priorities completely wrong’ he continued before adding:
We are the party that believes very strongly in the Union… What I want going forward is a stronger Scotland in a changed United Kingdom.
Comments
Join the debate for just $5 for 3 months
Be part of the conversation with other Spectator readers by getting your first three months for $5.
UNLOCK ACCESS Just $5 for 3 monthsAlready a subscriber? Log in