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A second member of Scottish Labour’s shadow cabinet has backed calls for MSPs to have the final say on indyref2.

Alex Rowley said transferring the power to Holyrood should be seriously considered and insisted his party should support the “sovereign right” of the Scottish people.

However, he said a second referendum should only be triggered if two thirds of MSPs back it.

Scottish Labour’s general election hammering has led to a public debate on the party’s policy on indyref2.

Power to grant a so-called “section 30” order currently rests with the UK Government, but senior MSP Monica Lennon said recently the responsibility should be given to Holyrood.

Others in the party want Labour to become more Unionist and take a clear stance opposing another referendum.

Rowley, who is his party’s constitution spokesman, has outlined his thoughts in a new pamphlet.

The MSP and former deputy leader reiterated his opposition to independence, but wrote that the “current Westminster settlement is alienating a majority in Scotland.”

In a dig at colleagues, he added: “There are those within the Scottish Labour group who want us to rule out any referendum for the foreseeable future. This would put us alongside the Tories and illiberal Liberals and would play directly into the hands of Nicola Sturgeon.”

He wrote that Labour must set out a “clear programme”, which had to include members and not just a “small band of MSPs”.

Rowley said Labour’s vision had to based the “transfer of substantial powers” from Westminster to Holyrood, adding that “who decides” on whether a referendum could take place is a legitimate question.

He concluded: “My own view is that the option of the power sitting in the Scottish Parliament with a requirement of a two thirds majority to trigger any future referendum is worth serious consideration.”

A two thirds majority at Holyrood would amount to 85 MSPs, which in the current Parliament would require pro-Union politicians to support indyref2.

Scottish Tory MSP Adam Tomkins said: “The decision has already been made – there will be no indyref2 in the foreseeable future. Alex Rowley and the SNP should do the same thing – get their heads down and focus on things that really matter.”