NEWLY appointed shadow Scottish secretary Ian Murray has said Labour’s position is to reject independence for Scotland and a second independence referendum, and instead push for a federalist approach.

Speaking to the BBC’s Good Morning Scotland, Murray, who was appointed to the shadow cabinet by new Labour leader Keir Starmer yesterday, said the shake-up is an opportunity for a “fresh start” for Labour in Scotland.

Murray, Scotland’s last remaining Labour MP, had many disagreements with former leader Jeremy Corbyn – who had said the party would not stand in the way of indyref2 after the first few years of a Labour government.

READ MORE: Shadow Scottish secretary Ian Murray's top Unionist moments

However this morning, Murray indicated that would not be the policy going forward.

He said Scottish Labour's Richard Leonard and Starmer have been "pretty clear" that a "Labour option" is needed when it comes to constitutional arrangements.

He added a Labour "way forward" would be to look at a constitutional convention across the whole of the UK and resolve issues across Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and across the regions of England.

He said: "The position of the Labour Party in Scotland has never been clearer, it's never been changed, it's no to independence, no to a second independence referendum with a policy of looking at a constitutional convention that may deliver something close to federalism across the whole of the UK."

Speaking to the programme this morning, Murray said of the new leadership: "I think it's an opportunity.

"It's an opportunity to have a fresh start, to wipe the slate clean, to look at the last five years as not being particularly positive in electoral terms."

Murray added: "In terms of Richard Leonard being leader of the Scottish Labour Party, in terms of Jackie Baillie being the new deputy, in terms of a new shadow secretary of state for Scotland, a new leader at UK level and a UK shadow cabinet.

"That is now what we are proposing to the public and we want to be a much more positive, forward-thinking party, that listens to the public, responds to what they told us on December 12 (General Election) and goes forward as a united party with a policy platform that everyone can attach themselves to.

"That is the fight over the next few years in the run-up to the elections in 2024 at UK level and next year's 2021 Scottish elections - that's what we're all fighting for and we'll do it together."

He rejected the idea of a new Scottish Labour leader.

The shadow Scottish secretary also offered good wishes to Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who is in intensive care due to Covid-19, and added that his party would be willing to help the UK Government through the crisis.

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