OWEN Smith has backed one of Nicola Sturgeon’s key arguments for independence, saying the collapse of Labour under Jeremy Corbyn could mean years of Tory rule at Westminster.

Despite describing himself as a “devout Unionist”, the Labour leadership challenger said the First Minister’s reading of the political landscape was correct.

Launching the SNP’s independence “listening exercise” on Friday, Sturgeon said Scotland faced a “double whammy” of Brexit and Tory domination caused by Labour imploding.

The latter would mean “years and years of Tory government ... Governments that are anti-European, anti-immigration, anti-human rights,” she said.

In an interview with the Sunday Herald a few hours later, Smith said he agreed with Sturgeon’s forecast if Corbyn is re-elected, as polls predict, later this month.

Smith said: “I think she’s got a point that there is a very real risk of years of Conservative rule. I do agree with that. I think she’s right that there is a very real danger that the Tories could be in power for a long time with Jeremy Corbyn there.

“I think there’s no question about that. He’s a very unpopular leader of the Labour Party. I don’t think he can lead us to electoral success.

“However, I don’t think the answer for Scotland is the SNP. I think the answer is a Labour government in Westminster and in Holyrood.”

Smith also said he would not oppose a breakaway Scottish Labour party.

“That would be for Scottish Labour colleagues to consider, wouldn’t it?” he said. “I’m very worried that the consequence of Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership continuing is that we run the risk of splits the length and breadth of the Labour Party.”

But he stressed: “My view is that we should remain united under all circumstances and no-one should contemplate a split in any circumstances, because a split would be cataclysmic.”

The Pontypridd MP, who has the support of Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale, was jeered last week at a hustings in Glasgow after saying Dugdale was doing “a brilliant job”, despite her leading her party to its worst Holyrood result and coming third behind the Tories.

Asked for the evidence behind the “brilliant job” claim, Smith stumbled: “Well as I said, I think the key … Well I think Kezia is, er, I agree with Jeremy.

“Kezia’s been dynamic, laying out her vision for what Scotland could be. I think Kezia is, you know, a very energetic new leader of the Scottish Labour Party and is doing a good job.

"But she’s got Jeremy Corbyn, hanging round her neck like a millstone, I’m afraid. When Jeremy Corbyn’s ratings are -50 in Scotland, I think that’s a really big drag on her.”

He predicted Dugdale would still be Scottish Labour leader “without a doubt” at the next Holyrood election in 2021, saying: “Why on earth wouldn’t she be? She’s doing a great job.

“I’ve got a 150 per cent faith in her carrying on in that position long into the future.”

On the constitution, he said Labour had “missed a trick” by not keeping devolution “moving forward”, allowing the SNP to become the main proponent of more powers for Holyrood.

“We need to recapture that and recapture a sense of innovation in respect of devolution, have a sense of what we think the constitutional politics of Scotland are going to be.”

He confirmed that, if leader, he would not block Labour MSPs from backing a second referendum, as the decision on what stand to take would be “Kezia’s job”, not his.

“I think there oughtn’t to be one [a second referendum]. I’m very clear that I want Scotland to remain with the UK. I’m a devout Unionist. I’m in no way, ever, in favour of Scotland leaving the UK, never, ever. However it is for the Scottish Parliament and the Scottish Labour Party to determine what they want to do, and it shouldn’t be for Westminster to block that.

“I think Better Together was a mistake in as much as I think we should have fought a stronger, Labour stand-alone campaign, that’s true.

“However I’m really clear: if the SNP put it to the Scottish Parliament that they wanted a second referendum, it would be for Kezia to determine our position and she has done, which is that she’s opposed to it and I support her. But ultimately it’s her position. That’s no change in Labour’s policy in the last five, 10 years.”

An SNP spokesman said: “It's significant that even Owen Smith agrees that Scotland looks likely to be facing up to years of Tory rule despite Labour only having one Scottish seat - resulting in us being dragged out of Europe against our will, jobs being lost and vital welfare support continuing to be cut.

"However his alternative is the same argument Labour used in so many previous elections, frequently resulting in Scotland getting a Tory government we never voted for."

The Labour leadership winner is announced at the party’s UK conference on September 24.