JEREMY Corbyn has said people in Scotland have a right to hold an independence referendum, putting him at odds with Kezia Dugdale.
The Labour leader said he would allow a new referendum “if the Scottish Parliament and the Scottish people want it” because that is the “whole point” of devolution.
Corbyn said he wants any referendum to take place after Britain leaves the European Union (EU), expected by March 2019, but refused to say he would block a vote during the Brexit process if Holyrood explicitly requests it.
“What I’ve said is that if the Scottish Parliament and the Scottish people want a referendum, they have the right to do that, that was the whole point of the devolution agreement of the 1990s,” he said during an election visit in London yesterday.
“I think the referendum should take place, if there is to be one, after the Brexit negotiations are concluded because this is the most important thing.”
Nicola Sturgeon has called for a second vote on Scotland’s constitutional future between autumn 2018 and spring 2019 – a demand rejected by Theresa May, who insists “now is not the time”, despite a majority in the Scottish Parliament favouring a referendum in principle.
Dugdale said last week Labour would never consent to a second referendum.
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