> THE idea of Scottish independence is “not very nice” as it would mean “perpetual Conservatism at Westminster”, Labour’s deputy leader has said.
>
> Angela Rayner was speaking to broadcaster Iain Dale during a show at the Edinburgh Fringe when she made the comments.
>
> The UK Labour deputy leader further claimed that she did not want to be “anywhere near” a second independence referendum because the Brexit vote had been “enough” for her.
>
> Rayner, who represents Ashton-under-Lyne at Westminster, suggested independence would see Scotland “leave behind” people in her constituency.
>
> She told the Edinburgh crowd: “It’s not a possibility that we would work with the SNP – we want to win a majority.
>
> “I don’t think the people of Scotland should leave behind the people of Ashton-under-Lyne, either.
>
> “The poverty that we face is the poverty they face and we both need a Labour government in order to make the changes that we need to make, whether that’s in Scotland or in England.”
>
> When asked about the likelihood of winning seats north of the Border in the next election, Rayner claimed the party was “making progress”.
>
> “Respect is earned, it’s not given and I think we’ve been making progress to earn that respect,” she said.
>
> “But I think breaking up the Union is not the answer.
>
> “Leaving us to perpetual Conservatism at Westminster is not very nice … but actually having a Labour government could make all the difference.”
>
> Labour currently has only one MP in Scotland, Ian Murray (below) in Edinburgh South.
>
> Rayner went on to say that the Labour Party was “behind” on devolution, adding that “actually engaging with devolution could be the key”.
>
> She continued: “Scotland is absolutely key, it’s key to Manchester, it’s key to the whole of the United Kingdom.
>
> “I’m against us going anywhere near a second referendum, if I’m honest. I think the Brexit referendum was enough for me.”
>
> When asked if her position showed “disrespect” to the people who voted for the SNP or Scottish Greens in last year’s Holyrood elections, Rayner pushed back.
>
> “I wouldn’t say it’s me showing disrespect, I’d say it was me being honest as a politician with people,” she said.
>
> “You can disagree with me on that position – and that’s completely fine … but I think it’s better for Scotland and I think it’s better for my constituency that we’re part of the Union, but I think it’s also equally important that we don’t have the Conservatives in power in Westminster – I think that is the biggest damage that’s being done in Scotland.”
>
> Lord Advocate Dorothy Bain QC last month referred a prospective referendum bill to the Supreme Court in a bid to ascertain if it was within the powers of the Scottish Parliament.
>
> Oral arguments will be presented to the court on October 11 and 12.
>
> Meanwhile, the deputy leader also said that her party was still struggling to communicate the “detail of Brexit” to the country.
>
> The event in Scotland’s capital was also interrupted by environmental campaigners from the group Green New Deal Rising, who asked to meet with Rayner, but were shouted down by members of the audience.
>
> Four campaigners held up a banner during the final minutes of the show, while another videoed their exchange with the leader.
>
> The campaigner recording the disruption was removed by security.
>
> In response to a question from the campaigners, Rayner stressed the need to tax the profits of oil and gas firms such as BP – which reported a profit of £6.9 billion in the second quarter of this year – as well as building green industries across the country.
> The Tories won a Westminster majority of 80.
>
> If Labour had won every Scottish constituency held by @theSNP
> , the Tories would have had a majority of… 80.
>
> If Labour had won *every* Scottish constituency, the Tories would have had a majority of 68.
>
> Scotland is not the problem.
It’s amazing that Labour can look at the situation in Westminster and blame Scotland rather than their own incompetence. I think only twice in the last 70 years has the Scottish Westminster vote changed the outcome of the election (1964, and 1974). In every other election if you gave ALL of Scotland’s seats to the opposition party it would not have changed the outcome of the election.
That’s funny, considering Scotland doesn’t vote for you.
Might as well say “we have no chance of ever winning an election over the Tories in England and Wales.”
Really instills confidence in Labour.
Labour will blame absolutely everything before they take even the slightest glance at themselves. It’s getting embarrassing now, the absolute worst opposition in history
Is Labour just admitting they can’t win in England?
Its also not Scotlands job to save England from itself.
>“I’m against us going anywhere near a second referendum, if I’m honest. I think the Brexit referendum was enough for me.”
This exactly. The Scottish version of the ERG wants to give Scotland their megabrexit based on lies and feels over reals.
To be fair, a perpetual labour rule looks pretty bad too. I’m voting yes when the time comes.
Funny way of saying “we can’t beat the Tories in England”
“not very nice” my MP, everyone. Who gives a fuck if it isn’t nice, not up to us
So Scotland should just accept perpetual tory rule waiting fir England to pull the finger out?
The ONLY reason there is a tory government is because of English voters , they outvoted the other parts of the UK combined. Own your shit.
Then end the SNP stranglehold on Scottish politics.
Change the voting system then to reflect the population better.
Ah, I see she’s caught the centrist brain worms from Starmer now, shame. Someone tell Burnham to stay well away from Keith.
If we can’t govern Scotland no one can!
Perfect way to restore Labour’s position in Scotland /s.
So Scotland has to stay to counter right wing England and the English cannot be trusted to vote for something sensible.
Offensive drivel to both sides. English are not helpless invalids. They can choose what they want to do and it might help if they had options other than “shit” and “less shit”. Also are we a bunch of rabid nationalists in Scotland waiting to kill all the English or are we a left wing counterbalance to you naughty english? Make up your mind Labour, can you at least insult us once at a time. Fucking sakes, this is too tiring.
15 comments
**By Xander Elliards** – The National.
> THE idea of Scottish independence is “not very nice” as it would mean “perpetual Conservatism at Westminster”, Labour’s deputy leader has said.
>
> Angela Rayner was speaking to broadcaster Iain Dale during a show at the Edinburgh Fringe when she made the comments.
>
> The UK Labour deputy leader further claimed that she did not want to be “anywhere near” a second independence referendum because the Brexit vote had been “enough” for her.
>
> Rayner, who represents Ashton-under-Lyne at Westminster, suggested independence would see Scotland “leave behind” people in her constituency.
>
> She told the Edinburgh crowd: “It’s not a possibility that we would work with the SNP – we want to win a majority.
>
> “I don’t think the people of Scotland should leave behind the people of Ashton-under-Lyne, either.
>
> “The poverty that we face is the poverty they face and we both need a Labour government in order to make the changes that we need to make, whether that’s in Scotland or in England.”
>
> When asked about the likelihood of winning seats north of the Border in the next election, Rayner claimed the party was “making progress”.
>
> “Respect is earned, it’s not given and I think we’ve been making progress to earn that respect,” she said.
>
> “But I think breaking up the Union is not the answer.
>
> “Leaving us to perpetual Conservatism at Westminster is not very nice … but actually having a Labour government could make all the difference.”
>
> Labour currently has only one MP in Scotland, Ian Murray (below) in Edinburgh South.
>
> Rayner went on to say that the Labour Party was “behind” on devolution, adding that “actually engaging with devolution could be the key”.
>
> She continued: “Scotland is absolutely key, it’s key to Manchester, it’s key to the whole of the United Kingdom.
>
> “I’m against us going anywhere near a second referendum, if I’m honest. I think the Brexit referendum was enough for me.”
>
> When asked if her position showed “disrespect” to the people who voted for the SNP or Scottish Greens in last year’s Holyrood elections, Rayner pushed back.
>
> “I wouldn’t say it’s me showing disrespect, I’d say it was me being honest as a politician with people,” she said.
>
> “You can disagree with me on that position – and that’s completely fine … but I think it’s better for Scotland and I think it’s better for my constituency that we’re part of the Union, but I think it’s also equally important that we don’t have the Conservatives in power in Westminster – I think that is the biggest damage that’s being done in Scotland.”
>
> Lord Advocate Dorothy Bain QC last month referred a prospective referendum bill to the Supreme Court in a bid to ascertain if it was within the powers of the Scottish Parliament.
>
> Oral arguments will be presented to the court on October 11 and 12.
>
> Meanwhile, the deputy leader also said that her party was still struggling to communicate the “detail of Brexit” to the country.
>
> The event in Scotland’s capital was also interrupted by environmental campaigners from the group Green New Deal Rising, who asked to meet with Rayner, but were shouted down by members of the audience.
>
> Four campaigners held up a banner during the final minutes of the show, while another videoed their exchange with the leader.
>
> The campaigner recording the disruption was removed by security.
>
> In response to a question from the campaigners, Rayner stressed the need to tax the profits of oil and gas firms such as BP – which reported a profit of £6.9 billion in the second quarter of this year – as well as building green industries across the country.
> The Tories won a Westminster majority of 80.
>
> If Labour had won every Scottish constituency held by @theSNP
> , the Tories would have had a majority of… 80.
>
> If Labour had won *every* Scottish constituency, the Tories would have had a majority of 68.
>
> Scotland is not the problem.
https://twitter.com/alanferrier/status/1556753123548463110?s=20&t=nSztga_sEfs_jf3jMzOSxg
—
It’s amazing that Labour can look at the situation in Westminster and blame Scotland rather than their own incompetence. I think only twice in the last 70 years has the Scottish Westminster vote changed the outcome of the election (1964, and 1974). In every other election if you gave ALL of Scotland’s seats to the opposition party it would not have changed the outcome of the election.
That’s funny, considering Scotland doesn’t vote for you.
Might as well say “we have no chance of ever winning an election over the Tories in England and Wales.”
Really instills confidence in Labour.
Labour will blame absolutely everything before they take even the slightest glance at themselves. It’s getting embarrassing now, the absolute worst opposition in history
Is Labour just admitting they can’t win in England?
Its also not Scotlands job to save England from itself.
>“I’m against us going anywhere near a second referendum, if I’m honest. I think the Brexit referendum was enough for me.”
This exactly. The Scottish version of the ERG wants to give Scotland their megabrexit based on lies and feels over reals.
To be fair, a perpetual labour rule looks pretty bad too. I’m voting yes when the time comes.
Funny way of saying “we can’t beat the Tories in England”
“not very nice” my MP, everyone. Who gives a fuck if it isn’t nice, not up to us
So Scotland should just accept perpetual tory rule waiting fir England to pull the finger out?
The ONLY reason there is a tory government is because of English voters , they outvoted the other parts of the UK combined. Own your shit.
Then end the SNP stranglehold on Scottish politics.
Change the voting system then to reflect the population better.
Ah, I see she’s caught the centrist brain worms from Starmer now, shame. Someone tell Burnham to stay well away from Keith.
If we can’t govern Scotland no one can!
Perfect way to restore Labour’s position in Scotland /s.
So Scotland has to stay to counter right wing England and the English cannot be trusted to vote for something sensible.
Offensive drivel to both sides. English are not helpless invalids. They can choose what they want to do and it might help if they had options other than “shit” and “less shit”. Also are we a bunch of rabid nationalists in Scotland waiting to kill all the English or are we a left wing counterbalance to you naughty english? Make up your mind Labour, can you at least insult us once at a time. Fucking sakes, this is too tiring.