SCOTTISH Labour have been told to drop their blanket opposition to a second Scottish independence referendum as it “smacks of political panic”.

Former first minister Henry McLeish made the remarks in an interview with the Daily Record, which he also used to urge Labour to fill “the absence of a well thought-out ­alternative”.

McLeish, who led the Scottish Executive for Labour after the death of Donald Dewar, also said that it seemed “likely” that Alex Salmond’s Alba party would gain seats in the upcoming Holyrood elections.

The former first minister warned the current leader of his party, Anas Sarwar that “merely ­saying no to a second independence referendum has never been a vote winner”.

He went on: “It sounds negative, is ­interpreted as a denial of democracy and smacks of political panic.

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“This has been a problem for Labour, ­especially in the absence of a well thought-out alternative.

“Now is the time for the party to be more self-confident. A new referendum could be some years away.

“Labour should drop its blanket opposition to another referendum. It will happen some time. The party must focus on other questions to be asked of the ­electorate and to ensure that other alternatives, not just independence, are part of any future debate and public vote.

“The real question is whether the Union, the Tory ­Government and the ­Westminster Parliament can produce the radical reforms needed to ­accommodate an ambitious nation like Scotland in a reasonable timescale.”

The former Labour leader hit out at Boris Johnson’s attempts to undermine the devolution settlement. He said: “No one should underestimate the contempt the ­Johnson government is stirring up at Westminster against devolution and how he is pulling the strings of the Scottish Tories to follow suit.”

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McLeish also spoke to the Record about the ongoing election and the implications of the “­legitimate gaming of the system” planned by Alba.

He said: ­“Fourteen years in government has taken its toll on the SNP, which appears less assured and riven with internal divisions.

“The SNP and Alba will now ­compete for independence votes in the aftermath of a vicious public, political and personal spat between the First Minister and her predecessor.

“Our politics has been undermined. Weaknesses have been exposed in our parliament and government. ­Critics of devolution at Westminster have been strengthened.

“Despite this, the SNP is likely to remain the largest party, with Alex Salmond’s new party contributing seats in support of independence.

“It would be foolish to ­underestimate the political significance of this ­legitimate gaming of the system. It is time to see Scotland’s future through the prism of a longer timescale.”