NOW BROWN CONCEDES PRINCIPLE OF REFERENDUM

NOW BROWN CONCEDES PRINCIPLE OF REFERENDUM

CONFUSED REFERENDUM POSITIONS AFFECTS LABOUR IN BRIGHTON

Commenting on Gordon Brown’s comments this morning where he said that Labour support for an independence referendum was a possibility, SNP MSP Kenny Gibson, said it was a significant shift since he had never conceded such a position before.

The SNP has already seized on his pledge to hold a referendum on electoral reform “early in the next parliament” – since it will be exactly the same time as Scottish Labour are refusing people in Scotland the opportunity to have their say in a referendum on Scotland’s future.

Adding that the issue of an independence referendum had now overshadowed two UK party conferences, Mr Gibson said:

“This is a significant move by Gordon Brown since he has never conceded the principle of an independence referendum until now.

“It also shows up the confused thinking by Labour on an independence referendum. Gordon Brown has undermined Iain Gray’s arguments that it is not the time to say you want to let people have their say on the constitution since he is also conceding a referendum on electoral reform ‘early in the next parliament’.

“Labour know they can’t stand against the people of Scotland having their say on their constitutional future without being seen as anti-democratic.

“Their position on when to hold an independence referendum is bizarre. They have failed to realise that by the time of the referendum, economic forecasts – including their own - predict that Scotland’s economy will be moving out of recession.

“By opposing a referendum next year, Scottish Labour are effectively talking down Scotland’s economy - an extraordinary position.

“Just as the referendum issue overshadowed the Scottish LibDems at their UK conference, the ‘sea air and pina coladas’ are obviously getting the better of Labour in Brighton.”