Reform Better Together to oppose IndyRef2? No chance, says Labour Scottish Labour will not share a platform with the Conservatives to defend the Union if there is a second referendum […]

Scottish Labour will not share a platform with the Conservatives to defend the Union if there is a second referendum on independence, the party’s senior leadership has said.

Leader Kezia Dugdale and her deputy Alex Rowley both effectively ruled out the idea of recreating Better Together, the cross-party campaign group which argued against independence in 2014.

“Never will we stand on any platforms with a Tory party which inflicted such misery on the people of Scotland” The i politics newsletter cut through the noise Email address is invalid Email address is invalid Thank you for subscribing! Sorry, there was a problem with your subscription. Alex Rowley MSP

Asked during a Daily Record fringe event at the party’s spring conference in Perth whether she could see Better Together being resurrected, Ms Dugdale replied: “I cannot imagine that.”

Although she stressed she did not want to see another referendum take place, she added: “I would be arguing very strongly for a Labour case for the Union should we find ourselves in that position.”

The Scottish Labour leader also said it would be a “huge mistake” for her Tory counterpart Ruth Davidson to lead any pro-Union campaign, arguing instead for a non-political figurehead.

Project Fear

Although Scots eventually voted No to independence, Better Together was accused of trying to frighten voters and was dubbed “Project Fear”.

Labour’s perceived closeness to the Tories during the campaign also played a major factor in the party’s subsequent electoral wipeout in Scotland.

In his speech to the conference, Mr Rowley said: “We say we will neither support the separatist solution of the SNP nor will we support the status quo of the Tories.

“We will neither cut ourselves off from our neighbours down south under the SNP, nor will we embrace the austerity economics of the Tories.

“We should be clear, and this conference should be clear to its leadership and to the Scottish executive, never will we stand on any platforms with a Tory party which inflicted such misery on the people of Scotland.”

Former Labour chairman Bob Thomson, who supported Scottish independence in 2014, also told delegates that the party should not “get into bed with the Tories” if there was another referendum.