Sir Keir Starmer: No-one in Labour wants to see Scottish independence

Sir Keir Starmer has reiterated that Labour will campaign against a second Scottish independence referendum in the build-up to next year’s Holyrood elections.

Labour leader Keir Starmer

The Labour leader argued there is “no need” for another vote on Scottish independence but sidestepped a question about whether he would ever stand in the way of a vote to break up the UK.

Sir Keir was asked about comments by Welsh Labour leader Mark Drakeford, who said that it would be up to the people of Wales or Scotland to decide whether there should be an independence referendum.

Speaking on LBC radio, he suggested that “no-one in the Labour Party wants the United Kingdom broken up” and the coronavirus pandemic has demonstrated the value of the Union.

“I strongly support the United Kingdom, I think it’s in all of our interest to hold together the United Kingdom,” he said.

“I think dealing with the pandemic has shown that, so we need to make the case for the United Kingdom.

“Mark Drakeford was making a point about who decides in certain circumstances but no-one in the Labour Party wants the United Kingdom broken up.”

On the issue of whether he would try to prevent an independence vote, Sir Keir said: “We will go into the elections in Scotland making the argument for the Union and making the argument that we don’t need a referendum.”