Jeremy Corbyn denies secretly supporting Scottish independence
SNP MP Mhairi Black claims Labour leader has ‘sold his soul’ over the Union issue

Jeremy Corbyn has dismissed claims by Scottish National Party MP Mhairi Black that he secretly favours an independent Scotland.
A Labour spokesperson described the assertion as “complete nonsense”, reports The Times, while a party source accused Black of “trying to smear” Corbyn, adding: “Since becoming leader, Jeremy has been unequivocal in his opposition to Scottish independence.”
Black made the claims in an interview with HuffPost, saying Corbyn had “sold his soul” over Scottish independence and that she felt “let down” by him.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The Paisley and Renfrewshire South MP said she was certain that he did not accept the Labour Party policy of keeping Scotland within the Union.
“I’m raging at Jeremy,” she said. “He has totally sold his soul, especially in terms of Scotland.
“He has sold out in terms of austerity. He has sold out in terms of Scottish independence – because I know that he doesn’t believe the things he says about independence now.”
Asked directly how she knew Corbyn supported independence, she said: “From talking to him.”
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
She added: “It really annoys me when people get credit when the reality is different.”
Black “failed to offer any further details of when and where the conversation took place, however, or the exact exchange”, says the news website.
Nevertheless, the claims are likely to “fuel unease among Labour MPs, several of whom have previously expressed concerns over his stance on the Union”, says The Daily Telegraph.
The Scottish Conservatives claim the allegations show that Labour is “willing to sell out the two million people who voted No in 2014”.
Adam Tomkins, the Tory MSP for Glasgow, said: “This is yet more confirmation that Labour isn’t just soft on the independence issue, it doesn’t even care.
“Labour leaders on both sides of the border paid unconvincing lip service to the importance of the union, yet behind the scenes would vote Yes in a heartbeat.”
Corbyn has said that independence would be “catastrophic” for Scotland, but caused controversy last year when he reportedly said that a second referendum, following the one in September 2014, would be “absolutely fine”.
-
Southern barbecue: This year’s top three
Feature A weekend-only restaurant, a 90-year-old pitmaster, and more
-
Film reviews: Anemone and The Smashing Machine
Feature A recluse receives an unwelcome guest and a pioneering UFC fighter battles addiction
-
Music reviews: Geese, Jeff Tweedy, and Mariah Carey
Feature “Getting Killed,” “Twilight Override,” and “Here for It All”
-
The end of ‘golden ticket’ asylum rights
The Explainer Refugees lose automatic right to bring family over and must ‘earn’ indefinite right to remain
-
Your Party: a Pythonesque shambles
Talking Point Comical disagreements within Jeremy Corbyn and Zarah Sultana's group highlight their precarious position
-
Is Andy Burnham making a bid to replace Keir Starmer?
Today's Big Question Mayor of Manchester on manoeuvres but faces a number of obstacles before he can even run
-
Angela Rayner: the rise and fall of a Labour stalwart
In the Spotlight Deputy prime minister resigned after she underpaid £40,000 in stamp duty
-
The runners and riders for the Labour deputy leadership
The Explainer Race to replace Angela Rayner likely to come down to Starmer loyalist vs. soft-left MP supported by backbenchers and unions
-
How should Keir Starmer right the Labour ship?
Today's Big Question Rightward shift on immigration and welfare not the answer to 'haemorrhaging of hope, trust and electoral support'
-
'Three Pads' Rayner: a housing hypocrite?
Talking Point As real estate moguls go, the Deputy PM is 'hardly Donald Trump'
-
Nicola Sturgeon's memoir: making the personal political
Talking Point Former Scottish first minister attempts to set record straight in 'Frankly' but does she leave more questions than answers?