Scottish Labour was right to “destroy itself” to help save the Union in 2014 and should be prepared to do so again, according to the party’s remaining MP.

Ian Murray argued that it was impossible to take a neutral position on the constitution without it leading to electoral disaster.

Of the seven Scottish seats held by Labour going into last week’s general election, only Mr Murray’s constituency of Edinburgh South was retained. A debate has now started within the party about whether it should back a second independence referendum.

“We want the leader of the Scottish Labour Party to come out strongly on the constitution because if you stand in the middle of the road you are going to get knocked down by a car