Labour must make position on referendum clear

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."

Notes: Senior figures in the Labour Party have consistently claimed it was inappropriate to hold a referendum during an economic downturn.

Jim Murphy speaking at Scottish Questions (18th March 2009)

"In these difficult economic times, the SNP's economic policies are indeed a fantasy; they are beyond all fiction. Scottish families in the hon. Gentleman's constituency and mine—and, indeed, across the whole country—are finding additional ways to tighten their belts. There is only one organisation in Scotland that believes that it cannot make any efficiency savings, and that is the SNP Scottish Government. The Scottish Government have more money than ever before and they should get on with delivering it. Instead of this endless constitutional obsession, we should all be focusing on the economic recovery, not constitutional referendums.

Iain Gray's speech to Labour Party conference (28 September 09)

"The day may come when the people of Scotland want a referendum to settle their constitutional future once and for all. But not now, in the midst of a recession."

Gordon Brown on a referendum (30th Sep 2009)

"You can debate these things for the future but the important thing at the moment is I don't really think people want me to be obsessed with the constitutional issue this month or next month. I think what they want us to do is concentrate on making sure the economy comes through recession." http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/scotland/6248082/Gor...