LABOUR are continuing to cause confusion over their position on a second independence referendum with Jeremy Corbyn's visit to Scotland.
During his speech in Glasgow's Heart of Scotstoun community centre, the Labour leader ruled out holding a referendum on Scottish independence in the first term of a Labour government, even if the SNP gets a majority in Scotland.
But the Labour leader's aides later backtracked to say the position could change if Nicola Sturgeon's party wins control of Holyrood in the 2021 Scottish parliament election.
Corbyn kicked off a two-day tour of Scotland today, with the aim of helping his party retake some of the seats it lost to the SNP landslide in the 2015 General Election.
Although Labour made a slight recovery in the 2017 ballot, the SNP still had 35 of the 59 Scottish constituencies in the last parliament.
Corbyn said: "No referendum in the first term for a Labour government because I think we need to concentrate completely in investment across Scotland."
But pressed on whether it would be undemocratic to deny the referendum if the SNP again won the majority of Scottish seats in the December 12 vote, the Labour leader said: "If the SNP win the majority of seats that's the election of those MPs.
"I'm very clear that a Labour government's priority is investment in Scotland."
Labour advisers later dialled back on Mr Corbyn's statement to make it clear that the party's position could change if the SNP wins the 2021 Holyrood election.
The Labour leader also warned the SNP that they cannot form a UK government.
He said: "This is a General Election where there is a simple choice about which government you want in Westminster.
"It's either going to be a Conservative government or a Labour government. Nobody else can form a government."
READ MORE: Jeremy Corbyn heckled by Church of Scotland minister in Glasgow
In an interview in Glasgow, Corbyn said: "No referendum in the first term for a Labour government because I think we need to concentrate completely in investment across Scotland."
But pressed if it would be an undemocratic move if the SNP won a majority of seats in Scotland in the General Election, he said: "If the SNP win the majority of seats that's the election of those MPs. I'm very clear that a Labour government's priority is investment in Scotland."
Aides later backtracked and made it clear that Labour's position could change if the SNP won a majority in Holyrood in 2021.
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