Shadow chancellor John McDonnell has suggested his party would not sanction a second independence referendum "in the early years of a Labour government".
McDonnell previously said he would not support Parliament blocking a fresh independence vote - a statement which caused a rift with Scottish Labour.
But despite repeating that view, the shadow chancellor said allowing a new independence referendum would "not be a priority for us" and that it would require a "proper mandate in Scotland".
The Labour MP's stance clashes with Nicola Sturgeon's, who is planning an independence poll for the latter half of 2020.
The First Minister insists she obtained a mandate to hold a referendum in 2016, when the SNP won re-election as a minority government at Holyrood with a pledge to hold indyref2 if Scotland was forced out of the EU against its wishes.
The shadow chancellor also ruled out any deals with the SNP to prop up a potential Labour minority government in exchange for allowing a new independence vote.
At the Edinburgh Fringe in August, he was criticised by many in Scottish Labour for contradicting the party's policy against allowing a referendum.STV NEWS
Shadow chancellor maintains he would not block indyref2
The Labour politician doubled down on his controversial remarks on Tuesday in his second Fringe appearance in two days, saying preventing an independence vote would be walking into "a set-up by Nicola Sturgeon". His latest comments come despite an angry backlash from a number of Labour figures north of the border, with Edinburgh South MP Ian Murray branding them "utterly irresponsible".
Read the article on stv.tv >
McDonnell said it should be "up to the Scottish Parliament and the Scottish people" to decide if a vote should be held, and therefore he would not support blocking a request for Section 30 powers from Scottish ministers to conduct a referendum.
Speaking to the BBC on Sunday, the shadow chancellor restated that view but added: "That's not a deal, that's my personal view I've expressed.
"That's not doing a deal, that's my position, but we're not doing deals with anyone.
"When we go into the next election, I believe we will have a majority, but if we are in a minority, we will be a minority government, we won't do coalitions, we will expect (other parties) to support the party.
"If we're in a minority position, we'll form a government and the other opposition parties can vote for the policies we're advocating and if they don't, we'll go back to the people."
He continued: "I don't think it's up to the UK Parliament to block a referendum.
"I don't think there should be another referendum, I think Scotland should stay united within the United Kingdom.
"It would not be a priority for us, we've got enough to deal with, with climate change, austerity, et cetera.
"Certainly it wouldn't be in the early years of a Labour government and there would have to be a proper mandate in Scotland - the Scottish people themselves would have to decide."
Shadow chancellor John McDonnell has suggested his party would not sanction a second independence referendum "in the early years of a Labour government".
McDonnell previously said he would not support Parliament blocking a fresh independence vote - a statement which caused a rift with Scottish Labour.
But despite repeating that view, the shadow chancellor said allowing a new independence referendum would "not be a priority for us" and that it would require a "proper mandate in Scotland".
The Labour MP's stance clashes with Nicola Sturgeon's, who is planning an independence poll for the latter half of 2020.
The First Minister insists she obtained a mandate to hold a referendum in 2016, when the SNP won re-election as a minority government at Holyrood with a pledge to hold indyref2 if Scotland was forced out of the EU against its wishes.
The shadow chancellor also ruled out any deals with the SNP to prop up a potential Labour minority government in exchange for allowing a new independence vote.
At the Edinburgh Fringe in August, he was criticised by many in Scottish Labour for contradicting the party's policy against allowing a referendum.STV NEWS
Shadow chancellor maintains he would not block indyref2
The Labour politician doubled down on his controversial remarks on Tuesday in his second Fringe appearance in two days, saying preventing an independence vote would be walking into "a set-up by Nicola Sturgeon". His latest comments come despite an angry backlash from a number of Labour figures north of the border, with Edinburgh South MP Ian Murray branding them "utterly irresponsible".
Read the article on stv.tv >
McDonnell said it should be "up to the Scottish Parliament and the Scottish people" to decide if a vote should be held, and therefore he would not support blocking a request for Section 30 powers from Scottish ministers to conduct a referendum.
Speaking to the BBC on Sunday, the shadow chancellor restated that view but added: "That's not a deal, that's my personal view I've expressed.
"That's not doing a deal, that's my position, but we're not doing deals with anyone.
"When we go into the next election, I believe we will have a majority, but if we are in a minority, we will be a minority government, we won't do coalitions, we will expect (other parties) to support the party.
"If we're in a minority position, we'll form a government and the other opposition parties can vote for the policies we're advocating and if they don't, we'll go back to the people."
He continued: "I don't think it's up to the UK Parliament to block a referendum.
"I don't think there should be another referendum, I think Scotland should stay united within the United Kingdom.
"It would not be a priority for us, we've got enough to deal with, with climate change, austerity, et cetera.
"Certainly it wouldn't be in the early years of a Labour government and there would have to be a proper mandate in Scotland - the Scottish people themselves would have to decide."
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McDonnell: No indyref2 in early years of Labour government
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September 08, 2019
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Reviewed by YOUNG-PRINCE
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September 08, 2019
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