PRESSURE MOUNTS ON LABOUR TO BACK REFERENDUM ON SCOTLAND'S FUTURE

PRESSURE MOUNTS ON LABOUR TO BACK REFERENDUM ON SCOTLAND'S FUTURE

PARTY IN CHAOS AFTER VOTES IN COMMONS AND ASSEMBLY

SNP Constitutional Affairs Spokesperson, Pete Wishart MP, has called on
the Labour Party in Scotland to make their position on holding a Scottish
referendum clear after their colleagues in the UK Parliament and Welsh
Assembly backed two other referenda in the space of 12 hours.

Senior members of the Labour party have consistently claimed it is
inappropriate to discuss a holding a referendum on Scotland's
constitutional future during an economic downturn.

Commenting Mr Wishart said:

“The hypocrisy of the Labour Party is stunning. In one day, they backed
two separate referenda in the House of Commons and the Welsh Assembly and
in doing so blew their own argument against a referendum on Scotland's
constitutional future out the water.

“Iain Gray needs to be clear. Will the Labour Party in the
Scottish Parliament continue to oppose a referendum on Scotland's future
or will they join the clear majority and back an independence poll?

“The people of Scotland must have their say over their constitutional
future. Labour cannot run scared any longer.”

Mr Wishart added:

“The tired and discredited argument of the London parties totally misses the
point. The key to fighting recession and boosting Scotland's performance
is securing the economic and financial powers we need to succeed, which is
why it is important for the sake of our economic success that people have
their right to a say on Scotland's future in a free and fair referendum.
For example, with the powers of fiscal autonomy and independence, we could
have a further acceleration of capital spending – which the UK Treasury is
currently refusing – and support more jobs and economic activity in
Scotland.”