Scottish Labour expresses 'serious concerns' over stance of Corbyn ally on independence

Angry row after John McDonnell says Labour will not block Scottish independence referendum

Scottish Labour has fired off a warning to Jeremy Corbyn to express "serious concerns" over deepening splits on the party's stance on independence.

In a sternly worded statement, the MSPs said they "deplore any attempts to undermine the official position" of the Scottish party and they "expect all Scottish Labour MPs and MSPs" to join in opposing a second referendum on Scotland's membership of the United Kingdom.

John McDonnell set himself at odds with the party's Scottish leader Richard Leonard when he told an audience at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival on Monday that Labour would not block a new Scottish independence referendum.

Amid a furious backlash, the shadow chancellor reaffirmed his position that Labour risked falling into a trap “set up” by the SNP to blame the “big bad English” for blocking their plans.

The row evokes previous clashes in Labour ranks. Former Scottish leader Johann Lamont famously accused Ed Miliband of treating the party north of the border as a "branch office" when she resigned in 2014.

In a statement on Thursday, the Scottish Labour Parliamentary party made clear its opposition to another "divisive and unnecessary" referendum on independence.

The group said: "We deplore any attempts to undermine the official policy position of the Scottish Labour party and we express serious concerns about an apparent change in Labour's position on a matter of vital importance to the future of Scotland and of the Scottish Labour party itself.

"Scottish party policy is very clear - that is opposition to a second independence referendum.

"There is therefore an urgent need for the UK party leadership to engage constructively with the Scottish party leadership on the issue of the party's stance on the future of Scotland."

It added: "We are clear Labour's position on Scotland's future is a decision for Scottish Labour, which the UK party must accept.

"We expect all Scottish Labour MPs and MSPs to vote in accordance with party policy."

Labour’s 2017 election manifesto claimed independence in Scotland would “lead to turbocharged austerity for Scottish families”.

Mr Leonard, who is an ally of the Labour leader, said he had spoken to the shadow chancellor on Wednesday to set out his position on the issue.

Their conversation came after Mr McDonnell doubled down on his stance, saying: "I'm not being set up by Nicola Sturgeon to blame the UK government for blocking the will of the Scottish people - that's too trite a political manoeuvre that's been taken on at the moment.

"In the situation we're in at the moment, my view is that we will not be blocking a proposal.

"The best way forward in all of this is to elect a Labour government. We'll demonstrate what we can do and then I think the Scottish people won't be interested in another referendum.

"But if they ever do come back, my view is you can't be in a situation where you block it."

A spokesperson for Mr McDonnell said: "John has made his view clear. [He] will continue to constructively engage with Richard Leonard and the Scottish Labour party."

It comes as a recent poll by Lord Ashcroft gave a lead for Scottish independence for the first time since 2017, with 52 cent of Scottish people in favour and 48 per cent against.