Together we’re stronger: Labour urges Scots to stand against a second referendum

Scottish Labour has written to nearly 150,000 Scots as the party steps up its opposition to a second independence referendum.

Hours after Nicola Sturgeon demand a second independence referendum, Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale wrote directly to Scottish families to tell them that Labour is opposed to a divisive indyref2. She said people in Scotland have just a week to urgently send a message to the SNP to drop plans for a second referendum, before the vote in Holyrood next week.

But, as the SNP and their Green colleagues have a majority in the Scottish Parliament, Miss Dugdale said ‘we need to prepare for another independence referendum’. The email encourages people to pledge their opposition to the SNP’s divisive plans at www.togetherstronger.scot.

In her email, Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale wrote:

“Scotland doesn’t need or want another referendum, and I will do all I can to oppose the SNP’s proposals.

As I said in my conference speech last month, our country has never achieved anything by being divided. And as a party, we have always believed that by the strength of our common endeavour we achieve more than we do alone.

That’s why Labour MSPs will vote against holding a second independence referendum when it is debated in the Scottish Parliament next Tuesday.

But the unfortunate truth is that the SNP and their Green colleagues have a majority in the Scottish Parliament, so we need to prepare for another independence referendum.

The SNP has now been in power for nearly a decade and in that time our economy, our health service and our schools have gone into reverse. Now Nicola Sturgeon wants us to spend another two years debating independence, which would leave our public services worse off.

Nicola Sturgeon is offering false hope to working people across our country. And we need to expose that in the coming months.

Between now and next Tuesday we need to make our voice heard. If you believe that Nicola Sturgeon should ditch her plans for a second independence referendum, you need to tell her by signing up to www.togetherstronger.scot.

With your help, we can send a strong message that Scotland doesn’t need or want another referendum.”

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70 thoughts on “Together we’re stronger: Labour urges Scots to stand against a second referendum

  1. In what utter fanciful deranged deluded Yooniverse has Brexit shown the UK to be “Better Together” or even just “Together” in any way shape or form?

    Brexit has PROVEN and HIGHLIGHTED the absolute divisions and unbalanced levels of influence and political power within the constitutional make up of the UK at every level.

    It has shown that the Sewel convention is worthless it has shown the Devolved Scottish Parliament is toothless it has PROVEN that the ONLY voice that matters is England.

    This is a very English Brexit. It is being driven by overwhelming English influence political power authority and ideology.

    This is about ENGLAND taking back the little sovereignty they gave up to the EU in order to fully control and dominate the entire UK without EU legislation getting in the way.

    This is about Scotland being told to stay in its box to eat its fucking cereal and shut the fuck up.

    But what sickens me the most about the whole sorry state of affairs is the cringing lickspittle craven self depreciation displayed by pro Union so called Scots.
    Dugdale who under different circumstance would have been a member of the SNP arguing the case for Independence if only she hadn’t failed the interview process.

    Pound shop Ruth. A term coined by a member of her own party. That’s the level of utter contempt the people of Scotland have for her and for anybody who listens to a single fucking gibbering word she has to say.

  2. We were told in 2014 that Scotland was an equal partner in this Union, that our voice was heard and would be respected. We were told Holyrood would be embedded in statute, and therefore could not be abolished or reminisced without our consent.
    We were told nightly on the BBC that we would have the powers of “modern Home Rule”, that we would be as near federalism as could be—-this by Gordon Brown, in constant touch with David Cameron we were told, to emphasise the weight Brown carried,
    Alistair Darling nodded his agreement to Jackie Bird on the BBC, that the concept envisioned was “Devo Max”, the devolving to Holyrood of all powers bar defence and foreign affairs.
    We were told (in a government leaflet to our homes) that only a NO vote could GUARANTEE Scotland’s place in the EU.
    None of these things were true—all lies.

    Now Dugdale wants Scotland to remain as a subordinate part of a separatist UK. A Scotland whose voice is silenced. A UK run by a right wing fanatic regime who would rule by fiat and decree if the courts hadn’t stopped them. A UK government which has zero interest in the opinions of others, whether internally or abroad. A UK regime which will be in power for decades, given their populism in England and the nature of the Murdoch led media in the UK.

    It would seem that Dugdale is willing to either go down with the ship, or utterly destroy Scotland’s ability to fight it’s own corner.
    Keir Hardie wanted Scotland to have Dominion Status. What would he think of Scottish Labour these days?

  3. But not Stronger Together with our European cousins, presumably.

    I’m still waiting to hear what our offer, as a party, to the overwhelming majority of Scottish voters who voted Remain is.

  4. I was dealing today with one of my valued EU employees who was virtually in tears over the situation.

    Would be great if Scottish Labour could get behind people like her rather than backing the Conservatives on this.

  5. “Nicola Sturgeon is offering false hope to working people across our country. And we need to expose that in the coming months”

    So does this mean that Slab will try to tell us that we should put our ‘hope’ in the Tories at Westminster?

    Or should we put our trust/hope in JC winning the next General Election? because if that’s the case anyone who is in any way involved in damaging media briefing against him, must be sacked or removed from the labour party altogether, as someone who is destroying any chance of Labour winning the next G Election.

    Do we trust Scots to build the kind of society we want to be part of, or do we go on trusting the Tories who at the moment look like they will be in power for the next 20 years, with Labour having to yet again take a massive lurch to the Right, to win enough votes to be electable in England again.

    Your a thoughtful man Duncan, who will you put your trust in?

    1. Its a “red, white and blue” Labour party these days, marching wi’ thir’ wee Union flags, happily in step-lock with Treezaan May and her Blueshirted bunch of populist hucksters ( applauded en route by the Scotsman, Herald, Mail. Torygraff, Express, BBC et al.)…………………….. OH, happy times, like a day on the beach with Matron, chauffeured down in Paters big limo and the plebs all at school.
      Corbyn and Scotland are flies in the ointment, but if ignored, will simply vanish!

      That seems to be the plan anyway.

  6. “Scotland doesn’t need or want another referendum, and I will do all I can to oppose the SNP’s proposals.”
    “But the unfortunate truth is that the SNP and their Green colleagues have a majority in the Scottish Parliament, so we need to prepare for another independence referendum.” Aye. Lt was in their respective manifestoes. Can YOU spot the contradiction?

    1. Another correction to an error of fact here.

      The Green manifesto gives their MSPs no mandate to vote for a second independence referendum. Their manifesto said they would only support a second referendum if there was clear public support for one. Recent polling shows most Scots don’t want a referendum on these timescales, and most Scots oppose independence anyway. So they have no mandate to vote for a second ref.

      1. What I don’t understand is- if you are pro-European what is the Scottish Labour angle? If you want to stay in the EU where else can you go but get behind independence? I am absolutely baffled by Kezia’s council of despair over independence. Why can we not be a successful European member state like so many others… is it genetics or what?

        I watched David Davis today tell the Brexit Committee in Westminster today that there would be no formal written response to the First Minister’s paper on retaining our place in the single market despite Theresa May’s warm words last July and Mundell’s insistence that there would be a response. Lets not forget that this was a white paper Scottish Labour were full square behind and Kezia supported in Holyrood. It is not just the SNP they are ignoring- it is Scottish Labour as well.

        I also watched David Davis tell the committee that they had made no economic evaluation of the effects of leaving the EU without a deal which is a real possibility. The same reckless, arrogant irresponsibility has meant the UK Government were unwilling to even give the Scottish Government a fair hearing much less a single concession.

        Duncan- you are arguing on a technicality on this mandate question which ignores the broader picture. 1. The SNP won the election on a clear manifesto commitment to indyref2 in exactly these circumstances. 2.There is a pro-independence majority in Holyrood and these aren’t theoretical voters- the MSPs are elected by ordinary, honest folk by and large who have elected a pro-indy parliament. 3. The vast majority of Scottish people were against not just leaving the EU but holding an EU referendum… and yet we are asked nay told to respect the result and 3. Theresa May has absolutely no mandate to take the UK out of the EEA with all the job losses (perhaps mine?) that will involve. And yet it is happening.

        So what does the Green Mandate have to do with anything at all? When we are being dictated to by a gang of right wing zealots?

        I have heard nothing from Scottish Labour over the last few days to make me think they are anything other than resigned to our fate, to simply bite down and give up.We are being treated with contempt Duncan- we all are.

        1. Indeed. They should vote against. Their manifesto says they oppose a second ref in the current circumstances.

          1. Bare face lying again Duncan. Nowhere within their manifesto is a commitment to oppose a second Indyref under any circumstance.
            Reduced to trolling like an idiot because in reality you haven’t a legitimate convincing leg to stand on.
            A reflection of the entire opposition to Scottish Indy.

          2. I never claimed there was. You really are incapable of reading a simple sentence, or indeed being honest about anything.

      2. Try saying that in your sad and confused radio voice Duncan, see if the Greens will listen, though I suspect like the rest of Scotland they won’t.

      3. Bare face lying yer arse off again Duncan we have at least 2 polls that give a majority of support for another Indyref within the FMs time frame.
        Get over yourself and for once in yer miserable existence stop being corrupt and despotic.
        Brace yersell we’re having another Indyref and this one will be way outside of your comfort zone in terms of support for your poisonous Disunion.

          1. They’re on Twitter. I believe you’ve already seen them dishonestly trying to pretend you haven’t.

            Britain Elects‏ @britainelects

            Scotland // “Should the UK government agree to a second referendum?”:

            Yes: 46%
            No: 42%

            (via YouGov / 09 – 14 Mar)

            Retweets
            262
            Likes
            288

            And then there was the poll that showed that 23% of Scots wanted a referendum this year and 27% wanted one within 2 years.

            So now according to you the Greens also have a mandate.

            And don’t stupidly lie yer arse off and tell folk to calm down when they point it out. Yer a parody of corruption Duncan.

          2. “Should the UK government agree to a second referendum” is not support for another indyref within the FM’s timeframe. That’s just a plain lie, Mike.

            The Panelbase poll absolutely did not say what you claim. It said 27% wanted a referendum within the next two years (Sturgeon’s timeframe) and 23% wanted on AFTER two years. It also showed 51% didn’t want one at all.

            Will you be apologising for misleading people and abusing me for pointing out your dishonesty?

      4. You should find yourself a stable, DUNCAN, there are plenty of straws to clutch at there.

  7. “…the greens don’t have a mandate…” and Tomkins “…SNP don’t have a mandate…”

    Clutching at straws while breathing into a paper bag.

  8. Further more Duncan ALL of the pro Union parties in the Scottish Parliament failed to gain a mandate to oppose a second Indyref. ALL of their manifestos were rejected by the majority of the electorate.
    Pound shop Ruth even failed to gain a personal mandate from her own constituency to oppose a second Indyref.

    So tell me Duncan where is the mandate to oppose a second Indyref?

    1. By that logic ALL of the manifestos of EVERY party were rejected by a majority of the electorate, including the SNP and the Greens.

      You’re a bit thick, aren’t you Mike.

      1. And by your logic every manifesto was accepted by the electorate.

        I don’t seem to be as thick as you Duncan.

        1. No. Next time you write a comment try stopping to think for five minutes before mashing the keyboard, rather than doing a playground kneejerk response.

          1. Oh did I catch you out yet again Duncan? That’s because yer pitiful as well as corrupt.

  9. The Panelbase poll absolutely did not say what you claim. It said 27% wanted a referendum within the next two years (Sturgeon’s timeframe) and 23% wanted on AFTER two years. It also showed 51% didn’t want one at all.

    Eh that’s within the FMs timeframe Duncan and 23 + 27 + 51 = 101.

    And you call me thick?

      1. So the Spring of 2019 is not over 2 years away since the poll was conducted?

        What do I need to check Duncan? 23+27= 50 + 51 = 101 are you seriously going to deny that?

        Are you actually aware of the unadulterated bare faced lying you put down with every sentence?

        1. Sturgeon’s plan is for a referendum in Autumn 2018. Less than 2 years from now.

          And yes, you should check that the numbers I gave you were correct. I showed you the link. They were correct. Maybe do a Google search on “rounding errors” while you’re at it.

          1. I keep checking the numbers Duncan and they always come back as 23+27=50+51=101.

            Are you getting different?

          2. No. Those are the correct numbers, Mike. You don’t seem to understand the concept of rounding errors. Then again you barely understand the concept of reality.

  10. The logic today is that the Conservatives Labour and the Lib Dems all have a “SEPARATE” mandate to oppose a second Scottish indy referendum gained from their “SEPERATE” manifesto commitments but the ELECTED “SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT” manifesto combined with the Green party manifesto doesn’t.

    So apparently the Scottish Parliament didn’t pass a budget this year because there was no mandate to do so.

    Welcome to Planet Horthersall.

    1. No Mike. My point is that the Green manifesto does not give Green MSPs a mandate to back a second referendum. It’s simple, and it’s true.

      1. No Duncan you never had a point just a gibbering excuse to troll pure pish. Ive already proved they do have a mandate you just pretended to not accept it as usual.

        Labour the Conservatives and the Lib Dems all claim to have a mandate to oppose a second Indyref based on the results of the 2016 election because it was written into their SEPERATE manifestos to do so.
        So in spite of losing the election their manifestos are somehow valid while the Scottish GOVERNMENTs WINNING manifesto COMBINED with the Green manifesto isn’t.

        Only wilful deliberate bare face stupid lying can attempt to unsuccessfully square that circle Duncan which is why you employ it as you ONLY argument.

        1. Wipe the spittle off your screen and read it again, Mike. The Green manifesto does NOT give them a mandate to back holding a second referendum.

          1. YES it fucking well does! I have given you 2 poll results that PROVE THAT.

            in spite of the fact that you DONT GAIN MANDATES FROM POLLS ANYWAY! You gain them from election results.

            Wipe that gibbering self deceit from yer worthless carcass for once in yer miserable servile life.

      2. If that’s true then none of the opposition parties have a mandate to oppose a second Indyref Duncan.

        THATS THE POINT!

        1. No, because their opposition in these circumstances was in their manifestos! The Green’s support in these circumstances was not in their manifesto!

      3. I’m not particularly wanting to get involved in this stramash but why do the Greens “need a mandate”? No-one is surprised they support independence and it is perfectly understandable they would support a new referendum under the present circumstances. Do you really believe people will take your point and turn away from the Greens in their droves …. as they have done with Labour? I don’t think so.

  11. In what Yooniverse did the opposition parties gain a mandate to oppose a second Indyref from the 2016 election and the Pro Indy parties fail to gain a mandate to hold one?

    Poundshop Ruth and Hive Queen Ruth both STATED they oppose a second Indyref because it was in their manifestos to do so.

    Its beyond duplicity its insane unadulterated despotic corruption to claim there is no mandate to hold a second Indyref because of the 2016 election results on these grounds if no other.

  12. Failing to be elected on yer manifesto invalidates yer manifesto which means the ONLY manifesto that’s still valid is the Scottish Governments.
    Its the ONLY manifesto within the Parliament that is valid. So that leaves ONLY the Scottish Government with a commitment to keep their manifesto promises everybody else is no longer committed and can vote freely on Scottish Government proposals.

    Is that not so?

    1. Eh? Every MSP elected from each party was elected on their manifesto. It’s not just the manifesto of the party that wins the most seats that has to be stuck to!

      1. But every MSP ISNT elected Duncan. Some are appointed by List. If we’re going strictly on ELECTED MSPs then the Scottish Government has a overwhelming majority in Parliament and therefore the manifestos of these “ELECTED” MSPs has a majority ELECTED on holding and Indyref.

          1. I accept your capitulation. Now grow the fuck up grow a fucking spine get off yer fucking knees and start dealing with reality before it runs you over on its way to a place you don’t want to be.

  13. “Like the Greens.”

    Yes exactly so you cant hold them to their manifesto if they didn’t get elected on it can you? They are now free to vote on ALL Scottish Government proposals.

    1. Of course you can. Just as you can hold every MSP elected on the back of a manifesto to that manifesto.

      1. So we can hold Labour to account for failing to deliver on every manifesto promise they’ve made since 2007?

        1. You failed to answer Duncan.

          So we can hold Labour to account for failing to deliver on every manifesto promise they’ve made since 2007?

          1. We can hold Labour MSPs to account if they fail to stick to what they pledged in their manifesto.

  14. Duncan Says “Their manifesto says they oppose a second ref in the current circumstances.”

    “Bare face lying again Duncan. Nowhere within their manifesto is a commitment to oppose a second Indyref under any circumstance.”

    Duncan then denies saying it “I never claimed there was. You really are incapable of reading a simple sentence, or indeed being honest about anything.”

    This is what this gibbering heap of self deceit refers to as progressive debate.

  15. “Sturgeon’s plan is for a referendum in Autumn 2018. Less than 2 years from now.”

    Except the “TIMEFRAME” is between Autumn 2018 through to Spring 2019. Its not Autumn 2018. The plan is to hold an Indyref within THAT TIMEFRAME. So you stupidly lied again.

  16. “No. Those are the correct numbers, Mike. You don’t seem to understand the concept of rounding errors. Then again you barely understand the concept of reality.”

    When you round 23 you get 23 when you round 27 you get 27 when you round 50 you get 50 and when you round 51 you get 51. Put em altogether you get 101 and when you round 101 you still get 101.

    What am I not getting?

  17. UK Yoonion media once again in total horseshit overdrive. All it takes is for one of them to print a piece of utter shite before the pack dives in with their spoons to gobble it all up and spew it all out again as news.

    Newsflash. Teresa May hasn’t rejected Nicola Sturgeons time frame for a second Indyref. She has ruled out not talking about it to the media instead.

    Its a sad state of affairs when even Duncan and his Labourhame gains more credibility than the UK MSM.

    How the world must be laughing its arse off at us right now.

  18. We can hold Labour MSPs to account if they fail to stick to what they pledged in their manifesto.

    So why haven’t you held any Labour MSP to account for failing to uphold their manifesto commitments since 2007 then Duncan?

      1. The lies just flow out free and easy eh Duncan. The biggest in claiming what you do on here is progressive.

      2. So as they haven’t upheld any of their pledges and haven’t been held to account by anybody as a result its safe to say that manifestos that don’t win elections don’t count and therefore you cant hold the Green party to any manifesto they didn’t win any election on.

  19. According to Duncan today if you hold a majority viewpoint that viewpoint gives that majority of support to you.

    He actually said as much on TV today.

    Duncan you bring utter shame to gibbering and self harm.

    1. Mike, take a breath. I haven’t been on TV today. Have you been watching your special videos again?

      1. Indeed it wasn’t TV it was Newsdrive Radio Scotland my error on the medium not on the content.

        That was a very special broadcast you made there Duncan. A new low in self harming.

  20. Kezia Dugdale wants Teresa May to overrule the Democratic will of the Scottish Parliament and she wonders why she’s no the FM.

    1. I’m pretty sure she hasn’t commented yet.

      I did notice that the Church of Scotland got in support for Sturgeon and even the Unionist paper The Scotsman printed an editorial in support of her too.

      I’m very hopeful that Scottish Labour will finally stand up to the Tories on this. But let’s see.

  21. One of the Most Powerful Devolved Governments in the World? What say you Duncan?

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