Talk of SNP/Labour pact dismissed as '˜utter rubbish'

Claims that the Labour could form a pact with the SNP have been dismissed as '˜utter rubbish' by a party source in Scotland.

Clive Lewis - a key Corbyn ally - had talked up progressive alliances with the Greens and SNP. Picture: Contributed

Clive Lewis, the shadow defence secretary and key ally of Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, had claimed it was ‘essential’ for Labour to build ‘progressive alliances’ with other parties, including the SNP and the Greens.

However, a source said: “This is utter rubbish. Clive Lewis should stick to defence policy, because he clearly knows nothing about Scottish politics.”

It is the latest sign of the growing divide between the Scottish Labour Party and its leadership in London under Mr Corbyn.

Kezia Dugdale, the Scottish Labour leader, has backed calls by the majority of the party’s MPs for Mr Corbyn to stand down.

After Ian Murray, the former shadow Scottish secretary and only Labour MP in Scotland, joined a mass resignation from the Labour front-bench, Mr Dugdale gave him a job in her top team as Westminster spokesman.

Mr Lewis told a newspaper that he wanted to be in government with the sole Green MP, Caroline Lucas, and said he was an admirer of SNP MP Mhairi Black.

“Half the time when the SNP are speaking, I listen to what Mhairi Black or others are saying and think I agree with that,” he said.