Labour has ruled out holding talks on Scottish independence with the SNP – or granting a second referendum – if Humza Yousaf’s party wins a majority of seats north of the border at the next general election.
Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves said that if her party forms the next UK Government, it would not regard such a result as “in any way” a mandate for independence.
She was speaking after the First Minister signed off an SNP conference motion which suggested that his party winning a majority of seats in Scotland could trigger independence negotiations with Westminster.
Mr Yousaf clarified on Friday that under the plan, the SNP’s goal would be simply to win “the most seats” in Scotland at the election, not necessarily a majority of them.
The motion is due to be presented to party members at the SNP’s annual conference in Aberdeen next month, and could be amended before becoming policy.
Doubts about the wisdom of claiming a mandate through a majority of seats, rather than a majority of votes, were raised by veteran SNP MP Pete Wishart.
“I’ve always been of the view that the only way we will ever secure any credibility…has to be on the back of the consent of the majority of the people of Scotland not in the majority of seats,” he told LBC.
“That’s the only thing I believe would give us that democratic credibility which would allow us to assert our independence in a meaningful and realistic way.
“So I’m pretty certain that as we go forward to a conference, there’ll be a number of amendments coming forward.
“I don’t think it’s credible and realistic to try and assert some sort of move towards independence if you’re not carrying the majority of people with you.”
Asked about Mr Yousaf’s plan while campaigning ahead of the Rutherglen and Hamilton West by-election, Ms Reeves ruled out any negotiations on independence.
“No, we wouldn’t consider that a mandate in any way to have another referendum,” she said.
“The SNP are now just doubling down on a core vote strategy, not interested in changing the lives of people in Scotland, but focusing narrowly on constitutional issues.
“I don’t think that those are issues that resonate with people here in Rutherglen, or indeed across Scotland.
“This is not the time for a referendum. This is the time to focus on the cost of living crisis and sorting out our public services.”
Speaking while he campaigned in Rutherglen, Mr Yousaf said he was confident that SNP members would back his motion, which was also signed off by Westminster leader Stephen Flynn.
However, he said he was willing to have a debate at the October conference over whether trying to win a majority of votes at the election would be a more effective strategy.
