Scottish Labour under Kezia Dugdale (right) is ‘doomed’ unless it backs independence, former leaders warn

Scottish Labour may be doomed unless it endorses independence, according to its former top spin doctor in Scotland.

Simon Pia, who served as spokesman for former party leaders Johann Lamont, Iain Gray and Wendy Alexander, said the Scottish party must adopt a more credible position on constitutional change after it was decimated in the last Holyrood and Westminster elections.

Writing in The Sunday Times, he argues: “Not only must it send a clear message to the electorate but it must take the initiative rather than feebly react to events. It cannot remain in denial and must be prepared for all eventualities such as independence or even the party splitting.”

He adds: “Nobody ever believed devolution would kill nationalism stone dead, apart from maybe George Robertson,