FRESH infighting in Scottish Labour has broken out over a second independence referendum.
Neil Findlay MSP hit out after the party's new spokesman on the constitution Anas Sarwar said Labour would oppose a new vote until at least 2026.
Sarwar said it is up to the people of Scotland to decide their future, but added that his will not support indyref2 for the whole of the next Holyrood term.
However, Findlay, who is on the left of the party and close to former leader Jeremy Corbyn, tweeted: "When did this become policy? Where was the debate? This is just making stuff up on the hoof."
READ MORE: Scottish independence: Labour plan to oppose referendum until at least 2026
Scottish Labour has struggled in recent years to hold a consistent line on a second independence referendum.
In the early days of Richard Leonard’s leadership, it strongly opposed another referendum.
But recently there appeared to be moves to soften this line prompted by polls showing majority support for independence.
After the party's disastrous General Election result last year, when it was again left with a single MP in Scotland, several senior figures - including Findlay - called for the party not to oppose indyref2, even though they would continue to oppose independence.
The new wrangle was seized on by Murray Foote, the SNP's head of communications in Holyrood, tweeted: "Scottish Labour normal service resumes...."
Meanwhile, the Scottish Greens, who are bidding to take Labour votes in the Scottish Parliament election in May, hit over the party stance on a new referendum.
READ MORE: Better Together figures scramble to condemn Boris Johnson's devolution comments
Co-leader Patrick Harvie said: "Scottish Labour have their fingers in their ears at a time when the Tories are undermining devolution and tearing up worker’s rights and environmental protections.
"At least a third of Labour voters would vote Yes and Scottish Labour is pushing them away. The STUC have said clearly that they support Scotland's right to decide, even if they don't all agree on independence itself.
"It's sad to see Labour no longer interested in representing the views of Scotland's workers in the same way. It’s clear that only the Scottish Greens stand for a Scotland that puts workers first with our own seat at the European table.”
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