Tories challenge Labour rival on past indy support

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."