Jeremy Corbyn: Second Scottish independence referendum ‘the right thing to do’

Jeremy Corbyn has backed Nicola Sturgeon’s push for a second Scottish independence referendum, claiming a new vote is “absolutely the right thing to do”.

Speaking at an Edinburgh Fringe event on Tuesday, the former Labour leader, now an independent MP, said it was “not right” for Westminster to tell Scotland that it “cannot have a choice”.

Downing Street has announced that it has submitted its written case to the Supreme Court arguing that the First Minister’s call for a second referendum lies outside the power of Holyrood.

In an interview with the Times journalist Graham Spiers at the event, called In Conversation With Jeremy Corbyn, the former Labour leader said: “If the people of Scotland, the Scottish parliament demand a referendum, then that’s absolutely the right thing to do.

“I don’t think it’s right for the Westminster government to say no, you cannot have a choice. You have to have a choice. You have got to do it with your eyes open.

“What’s the economic option that’s on offer? What’s the relationship that could be and would a federal settlement work better?”

Mr Corbyn refused to expand on his comments when approached by The Telegraph shortly after the talk, but the SNP praised his stance against “an increasingly Tory-leaning” Sir Keir Starmer, his successor as Labour leader.

In 2019, Mr Corbyn had said a Labour government would not bow to the SNP’s demand for a second referendum within the “first few years”.

Sharon Dowey, the Scottish Tory spokesman for culture, said: “Now we know that if he had been handed the keys to Downing Street he would have rolled over to Nicola Sturgeon’s demands for another divisive independence referendum.

“It beggars belief that he has rowed in behind Nicola Sturgeon’s plans at a time when Scots are struggling with ever increasing bills and the NHS is in crisis.

“Those Labour MSPs who still support Corbyn’s toxic brand of politics need to urgently clarify whether they also support his views on another independence referendum.”

A spokesman for Scottish Labour said that, as a private citizen, Mr Corbyn was entitled to his views “on a range of subjects”.

During the hour-long talk, Mr Corbyn stopped short of directly criticising Sir Keir, but highlighted his own involvement in 2016 on the picket lines backing doctors’ strikes – a reference to Sir Keir’s order last month for Labour frontbenchers not to directly back rail strikes.