But Langholm native Douglas Beattie, who was confirmed as his party’s choice for Westminster this week, states that he would now vote ‘No’ to separation if there was a second indy vote.
His earlier deviation from Labour’s long-held pro-UK policy was highlighted by the Scottish Conservatives, who in a media release this week, also accused current senior Labour figures of sending out mixed messages on their independence position.
The Tory statement listed a series of 2014 social media comments, attributed to Mr Beattie, which were supportive of the ‘Yes’ campaign.
Mr Beattie, a London-based journalist, refugee charity offical and Labour member on Camden Council, hopes to secure the seat of Conservative candidate David Mundell, the Scotland Secretary.
Mr Mundell said: “Yet again Labour are in chaos over the threat of a second independence referendum.”
However, Mr Beattie, who still has a home in Langholm, responded: “I supported the Yes campaign in 2014, but like many Scots I would now vote No in any second independence referendum.
“I support a more federal United Kingdom, and Kezia Dugdale has laid out Labour’s plans for that in recent months.”
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