SCOTTISH voters were left bamboozled yesterday when Richard Leonard said pro-independence parties winning an election in Scotland would not be enough “demonstrable public support” for indyref2.
Despite being asked repeatedly, the Scottish Labour leader failed to say what enough “demonstrable public support” would be.
In a bullish interview with the BBC’s Sunday Politics Scotland, the party’s chief in Scotland, also made a rare criticism of Jeremy Corbyn.
The normally, super-loyal Leonard attacked the London party’s Brexit position as “ambiguous” and said he wanted the leadership to take a more pro-remain stance.
That came as Mark Drakeford, leader of Welsh Labour, called a campaign to remain claiming up to 50,000 jobs could be lost in the country by a “crash-out Brexit”.
Leonard has previously suggested Labour should say no to any request for a Section 30 order from an SNP government, but yesterday he indicated that could change if certain criteria were met.
READ MORE: Richard Leonard branded an 'anti-democrat' over indyref2 claims
He told the BBC: “The Labour position going into the general election whenever it comes will be that we oppose the creation of a separate Scottish state, that we oppose independence and therefore that we oppose the holding of a second independence referendum.
“Where there has been some discussion is around if there was to be a renewed mandate which showed not only electoral but demonstrable public support for the holding of a second referendum – then there would need to be some consideration given to that.
“We had an independence referendum just five years ago and that’s got to be a factor in considering whether the circumstances are right for a second independence referendum to be held.
“All of the evidence shows that even people who voted yes in 2014, even some people who are supporting the SNP, do not think that the time is now for a second independence referendum.
“The circumstances under which the 2014 referendum were held were that the SNP had gained an overall majority – unprecedented, completely unexpected – and there was an understanding that there had never been an independence referendum and the time might be right to test it.
“What I’m saying is, I don’t see the circumstances today and I don’t see them in the foreseeable future where we would be back in that kind of space again.”
Leonard said “demonstrable public opinion” wasn’t just about winning an election but “about where public opinion is.”
Asked if he meant opinion polls, Leonard replied: “Well, it depends entirely … well I think there would need to be the demonstration of substantial support from the British people for a second independence referendum quite soon after we’ve just had one.”
On Brexit, Leonard said Scottish Labour’s position would be to “call for an affirmative vote that any deal should go back to the public; secondly, that on that vote there should be a remain option; and thirdly, that we would campaign unambiguously for remain.”
He added: “I would support the party taking that stance. I do think the time has come for clarity on this question and the Scottish Labour party, the Welsh Labour party take a similar view that we should be more overtly remain.”
The SNP’s George Adam said: “Richard Leonard added little to the sum total of what we know about Labour’s Brexit position. They remain completely incoherent on the biggest political issue facing the UK.
“Meanwhile the SNP’s position is crystal clear. We want to stop Brexit and give people in Scotland the choice with independence.”
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