A senior Labour MP has predicted Scotland will become independent.
Frank Field, a welfare minister under Tony Blair and current chairman of the Commons Work and Pensions Committee, said Scotland is “another country” with a “sovereign parliament”.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SHPUNrymumY
Former First Minister Alex Salmond welcomed the Eurosceptic MP’s prediction on BBC Daily Politics, and said a vote to leave the EU against majority opinion in Scotland would justify another independence referendum.
Mr Field said: “I think Scotland’s another country, and I actually do think we will move to a position where you have independence.
“And I hope we will then push for a parliament of all the countries, with England having a sovereign parliament like you have, and Wales and Northern Ireland.”
Mr Salmond said: “It’s not up to me, but Nicola Sturgeon – who it is up to along with the Scottish people – has identified that if we were dragged out of the EU against the will of the Scottish people, then that will be the change in material circumstances that would justify another poll.”
Scottish Labour is expected to publish a commitment to oppose another independence referendum in its Holyrood election manifesto on Wednesday.
However, leader Kezia Dugdale has said it is “not inconceivable” that she would back independence if the UK votes to leave the EU – comments she has since rolled back from.
On Sunday, she said she “will always vote No against independence… in every scenario” – but did not rule permitting her members to back independence.
Mary Lockhart, Scottish Labour candidate for Mid Scotland and Fife, told a Women For Independence hustings last week that Ms Dugdale is “comfortable for Labour members to campaign for a Yes vote”.
Scottish Conservative chief whip John Lamont said: “Here is a senior Labour figure predicting the break-up of Britain.
“It’s yet more evidence of the party’s weakness on keeping the UK together.
“The two million people who voted No don’t want supposedly pro-UK parties to promote independence, or lie back and watch while their members campaign for separation.
“That’s why the Scottish Conservatives will always stand up for our place in the UK.”
