LABOUR activists want whoever succeeds Jeremy Corbyn to allow a second referendum on Scottish independence, according to a stunning new poll.
The survey, carried out by YouGov for the Times, revealed that more than three-quarters of party members across the UK would support indyref2.
The SNP’s Mhairi Black said the findings should act as a “wake-up call for Scottish Labour”.
The results came as the five contenders for the leadership faced off against each other in Leeds for the contest’s first hustings.
The constitution and Labour’s position on a new vote looks certain to dominate the race when the five come up to Glasgow next month.
Recently, a number of senior figures in the party have called for a rethink on Labour’s staunch opposition to indyref2, including MSPs Monica Lennon, Neil Findlay, and former first minister Henry McLeish.
READ MORE: Pete Wishart: 'It’s as if Labour have a Scottish death wish'
Earlier this week, the party’s spokesman on the constitution, Alex Rowley, said the party unequivocally “believes in the sovereign right of the Scottish people to determine their own future”.
Last weekend, Labour’s ruling Scottish Executive Committee (SEC) blocked Richard Leonard’s plans to hold a conference for party members in May to thrash out Labour’s position on a second referendum.
Instead, the executive will discuss federalism at an “away day”.
Intriguingly, the YouGov poll revealed a stark divide between party members on either side of the border, with significantly fewer Scots backing a new vote on the constitution.
In the poll, when asked if Labour should support having a referendum on independence, 33% of members across the UK said yes, while 16% said no.
However, another 44% said the party should not actively support one but “be open to supporting one as a part of a coalition deal with the SNP”.
READ MORE: Mhairi Black: Tories failed to protect Scottish devolution
In Scotland, just 27% of Labour members supported having indyref2, while 37% opposed.
Only 30% believed that the next Labour leader should be open to supporting one as part of a coalition deal with the SNP.
Black (above), the SNP’s Shadow Scottish Secretary, said: “This latest survey should serve as a wake-up call for Scottish Labour which surely now must end the confusion and back a second independence referendum.
“With a strong majority of Labour members across Scotland and the UK supporting – or open to supporting – a second independence referendum, it’s clearer than ever that denying democracy to the people of Scotland is a completely unsustainable position for the Labour party to adopt.
“Labour’s leadership is not just out of touch with the electorate – losing all but one seat in Scotland at the General Election – but it seems it is also out of touch with its own party members.
“With Westminster actively acting against Scotland’s interests, the people of Scotland must have the right to choose a better future as an independent country – and that decision lies solely with the people of Scotland.”
READ MORE: Jess Phillips: Scots 'would not be asking me about devo-max'
Last Sunday Rebecca Long-Bailey, who is one of the frontrunners in Labour’s leadership contest, said that “ultimately the people of Scotland need to make the case” for independence.
Her rival Jess Phillips (below) disagreed: “Let nationalists make the case for nationalism, we should make the argument for solidarity and internationalism.”
Leonard has warned the Labour leadership contenders that it is the Scottish arm of the party that will decide the position on independence.
He told the PA news agency he has spoken to UK leadership hopefuls and insisted the Scottish party must make the final call.
Earlier this week, Leonard said he is in support of “home rule” for Scotland. This is thought to mean more powers devolved to Holyrood but economic policy, defence and foreign affairs left at Westminster, something close to the “devolution max” punted by the party ahead of the first independence referendum.
READ MORE: FM: Jess Phillips has Scots Labour voters 'running for the hills'
Leonard said: “One of the things that I’m saying to all the leadership candidates in this contest is it’s good that they’re concentrating a lot of their messages on Scotland – that they understand if Labour is to win again, we have to win in Scotland.
“But I’m getting the message across that in the end, on the Scottish constitutional question, that will be decided by members of the Scottish Labour Party.
“The Scottish Labour Party will be the ones driving that agenda.”
Leonard has declined to endorse any of the candidates in the leadership race, instead asking members to vote for who they believe will bring Labour back into Downing Street.
Meanwhile, former prime minister Gordon Brown is due to warn his party against independence in a speech in London tomorrow.
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