Further turmoil has engulfed the Scottish Labour party after Westminster leader Jeremy Corbyn said he would not block a second Scottish referendum.
Mr Corbyn echoed comments made last week by shadow chancellor John McDonnell by saying it would not be for the UK government to stop a second referendum on independence, should he be prime minister.
The Labour leader revealed plans to defeat a no-deal Brexit under Boris Johnson by securing a general election as leader of a “strictly time-limited” caretaker government after winning a no-confidence vote.
SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon said all 35 MPs would be willing to support Labour’s plan for a no-confidence vote, extension to the Brexit deadline and general election announcement under Corbyn as “time-limited” leader.
The Lib Dems, under Scottish-based leader Jo Swinson, said they would not support Jeremy Corbyn as interim prime minister.
Mr Corbyn’s independence comments have been slammed by Scottish Labour members, who accused him of making up policy “on the hoof”.
One party source said: “His comments are ridiculous, Scottish Labour was very clear in our opposition to a second referendum.
“We made that decision at conference and as Mr Corbyn regularly points out, the Labour leader does not just get to go around setting party policy.
“Scottish leader Richard Leonard needs to be supported in this Scottish Labour position. Jeremy Corbyn needs to respect party policy.”
SNP depute leader Keith Brown MSP said: “Labour’s UK leadership recognises the democratic right for Scotland’s people and parliament to choose their own future.
“That is a simple recognition of the principle of self-determination, of the precedent set by the 2014 referendum and of the cast-iron democratic mandate which exists.
“Scottish Labour’s position is fundamentally anti-democratic, and Corbyn’s remarks leave it looking even more isolated and irrelevant.”
A Scottish Labour spokesperson said: “Jeremy Corbyn said he is not in favour of Scottish independence and that he believes a decision was reached when the 2014 referendum democratically affirmed Scotland’s place in the United Kingdom.
“Jeremy Corbyn and Richard Leonard have made clear that there is no economic case for independence, especially with the SNP’s new position of ditching the pound and new policy of turbo-charged austerity to bear down on the deficit.
“What Scotland needs is radical reforming Labour governments at Holyrood and Westminster.”
Secretary of State for Scotland Alister Jack said: “Scotland benefits immensely from being at the heart of a strong United Kingdom and I am absolutely committed to strengthening the Union.
“The last thing Scotland needs is another damaging and divisive independence referendum.
“We had a once in a generation referendum in 2014 and Scotland voted decisively to stay part of the UK. That needs to be respected.”
