A Dundee-born and Fife educated Labour MP has come out in favour of Scottish independence.
George Mudie, who went to school at Waid Academy in Anstruther, broke party ranks to say he would vote Yes if he was eligible to do so in September’s referendum.
In an interview with BBC Radio Leeds, the vice-chairman of the House of Commons Treasury Select Committee made his feelings clear.
He said: “If I were in Scotland I would be voting for an independent Scotland.”
Mr Mudie, who is to retire as the MP for Leeds East at the next election, added: “The opportunity should be given, and is being given, to people in Scotland to say ‘do you want to be independent?’
“Now, if I were to ask you as an Englishman ‘do you want an independent England?’ Yes.”
Fellow Treasury Select Committee member and Dundee East MP, Stewart Hosie, welcomed Mr Mudie’s comments and claimed he would not be alone in the opposition when it came to backing a Yes vote.
Mr Hosie said: “I haven’t spoken to George about Scottish independence but I’m delighted that he has said that, were he living in Scotland, he would vote for independence.
“I suspect he’s not alone and a significant number of Labour Party members, supporters and voters support Scottish independence as well.”
Ed Miliband described Mr Mudie as “a fantastic MP” who would “be a huge loss to the Commons” when it was announced he would be standing down next year.
However, a Scottish Labour spokesman tried to turn the focus back to US President Barack Obama’s intervention into the debate when asked about the MP’s comments.
The spokesman also rejected Mr Hosie’s claims that a large number of Labour voters would back independence.
He said: “George Mudie is entitled to his opinion but we know the overwhelming majority of Labour supporters share the view of the President of the United States Barack Obama that we are better together.”
Mr Mudie’s remarks came the day after senior Better Together figures and campaigners welcomed the intervention of Mr Obama, who appeared to advocate a No vote when addressing a press conference.