KEIR Starmer has pledged to “settle” Scottish independence without a referendum – with the Labour leader’s office now detailing what he means by this.
It comes after Starmer’s visit to the former Labour stronghold of Glasgow East with Anas Sarwar, which saw most of the press shut out.
Speaking to the Daily Record, the UK Opposition leader said if in power, he would "settle" the question of Scottish independence.
READ MORE: Keir Starmer: More powers for Scotland would be ‘early priority’ if I becomes PM
Asked by The National what this would entail, a spokesperson for the Labour leader said: “Keir’s vision is of a reformed and renewed United Kingdom, one that works better for Scotland, and all parts of the UK.
“It will be an offer of safer, fairer, and faster change for Scotland than either the status quo or independence, and will involve boosting the powers of the Scottish Parliament, to unite people, whether they have been yes or no in the past.
"That’s how we achieve security, prosperity and respect for Scotland.”
Starmer claimed that his relationship with Scottish Labour branch office boss Anas Sarwar contrasted with Tory disrespect for Scotland.
He said: “We have to show we can win in Westminster and show the people in Glasgow and across Scotland that they are not forever stuck with a Tory Government at Westminster.
READ MORE: Labour leader Keir Starmer accused of 'hiding from press' during Glasgow visit
“It’s very important to show that Labour can form the next Government.
“If you look at the way Anas and I work together, it’s a united team always in lockstop. Me properly respectful of Scottish Labour.
"Contrast that with the Tories, where you’ve got Jacob Rees-Mogg calling Douglas Ross a lightweight.
“I think that it shows disdain for Scotland and it is further evidence that the Conservative Party is not capable of holding the Union together."
SNP deputy Westminster leader Kirsten Oswald said “the people of Scotland have already voted decisively for a referendum and Keir Starmer needs to respect that”.
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“Just like Labour’s promises in 2014, Keir Starmer’s vague and undefined plans wouldn’t have prevented Scotland from being dragged out of the EU against our will, or prevent a Tory power grab on Holyrood,” she added.
“Only independence can fully protect our national interests.”
SNP MP Tommy Sheppard yesterday hit out at Labour over its decision to shut out the press on Starmer’s visit.
He said: "It doesn't say much for the content of the message or the confidence of the messenger if Labour appear to be hiding from the nation's press and are picking and choosing what press they go with.
"If you have a policy that you want people to support, you have to make it available to scrutiny from the media. It runs against all our democratic traditions to do otherwise.
"The whole point of having a free press is that politicians expose themselves to a range of views and a range of criticism. It's Trumpian only to have a platform in a sympathetic newspaper while condemning others."
He continued: "Labour's problem now is that it is trying to deny something that most of their supporters want, which is a choice on Scotland's future.
"That's why Labour are losing elections because they are refusing to give people a democratic say in how their country should be governed and give them a choice of becoming politically independent of Westminster....Now is the time for Labour to learn some humility, listen to the people and respect the judgement people made in a free and fair election."
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