This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-39084245
The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Scottish Labour's Dugdale pledges to work 'tirelessly' for union | Scottish Labour's Dugdale pledges to work 'tirelessly' for union |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale has pledged to work tirelessly in support of the union if there were to be a second independence referendum. | Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale has pledged to work tirelessly in support of the union if there were to be a second independence referendum. |
| She made her promise during a speech to her party conference. | She made her promise during a speech to her party conference. |
| Ms Dugdale said that the country still bore the scars of the September 2014 vote. | Ms Dugdale said that the country still bore the scars of the September 2014 vote. |
| Earlier, the Perth gathering heard UK Labour's deputy leader Tom Watson talk of his "huge disappointment" at not winning the Stoke by-election. | Earlier, the Perth gathering heard UK Labour's deputy leader Tom Watson talk of his "huge disappointment" at not winning the Stoke by-election. |
| Analysis | |
| By BBC Scotland's political editor Brian Taylor | |
| Ms Dugdale resolutely stressed that she was not keen to engage in a further constitutional battle in Scotland, indyref2. | |
| It was a bad thing. It was other than good. It was not desired by the people of Scotland. It was a mistake. It was not needed. It would not put bread on the table. It was a hissing and a byword. | |
| Having thus denigrated constitutional politics, she proceeded to deliver a speech which dealt, very substantially, with….constitutional politics. | |
| A conundrum? Yes, but perhaps also a dose of realism. Thus far, Labour has spent the time since the 2014 referendum and indeed the 2016 version urging a return to the politics of equality, the politics of economic reform. | |
| Read more from Brian | |
| Ms Dugdale has reaffirmed her party's opposition to a second referendum. | Ms Dugdale has reaffirmed her party's opposition to a second referendum. |
| She added that she was ready to "step up and make the case for the union" once again, if the SNP broke its vow to not hold another contest. | She added that she was ready to "step up and make the case for the union" once again, if the SNP broke its vow to not hold another contest. |
| The MSP argued that Labour's "historic values can endure even under this greatest threat" and that it will "always put the people of this country first". | The MSP argued that Labour's "historic values can endure even under this greatest threat" and that it will "always put the people of this country first". |
| Ms Dugdale's speech came a day after the party adopted a policy in favour of a federal UK. | |
| 'Time Sturgeon changed her tune' | 'Time Sturgeon changed her tune' |
| She added: "The Labour Party I lead will never support independence. | She added: "The Labour Party I lead will never support independence. |
| "It's not an escape from Tory rule, it's not an escape from Brexit, it's not an alternative, it's the same old song that the SNP has been singing for decades. | "It's not an escape from Tory rule, it's not an escape from Brexit, it's not an alternative, it's the same old song that the SNP has been singing for decades. |
| "It's time Nicola Sturgeon changed her tune. | "It's time Nicola Sturgeon changed her tune. |
| "I want the first minister of Scotland to focus on the Scottish NHS, on our economy and on our schools. I don't want a first minister whose priority is the constitution." | "I want the first minister of Scotland to focus on the Scottish NHS, on our economy and on our schools. I don't want a first minister whose priority is the constitution." |
| Ahead of Ms Dugdale's speech, Mr Watson told members gathered: "All of us with leadership roles in the Labour Party need to have a long hard look at ourselves at what's not working. Seven years into a Tory government we should not be facing questions about whether we can retain seats we already hold. | Ahead of Ms Dugdale's speech, Mr Watson told members gathered: "All of us with leadership roles in the Labour Party need to have a long hard look at ourselves at what's not working. Seven years into a Tory government we should not be facing questions about whether we can retain seats we already hold. |
| "Our job at the next general election is to gain over 100 seats - keeping what we have is supposed to be the easy bit and here in Scotland you have seen what happened when Labour's long standing supporters stop voting Labour. | "Our job at the next general election is to gain over 100 seats - keeping what we have is supposed to be the easy bit and here in Scotland you have seen what happened when Labour's long standing supporters stop voting Labour. |
| "We cannot afford to have that happening in England too." | "We cannot afford to have that happening in England too." |