Labour's Last Poll Of The Dice

May 4 2008

THERE is a clear logic to Labour backing a referendum on Scottish independence.

The issue is dominating politics at the expense of real debate on health, education and crime.

Alex Salmond and the SNP are racing ahead in the polls while support for Labour is plunging.

Scots voting against independence might halt the SNP's progress and galvanise Labour.

The important word is "might".

The result could go the other way, breaking up the Union.

Testing the will of the people might be a risky strategy for Labour.

The party would be better devoting their energy and thinking to rebuilding grassroots support and coming up with ideas that will improve people's everyday lives.

People are more concerned with job security, safe communities and their children's education than constitutional clutter.

Wendy Alexander and Gordon Brown might think a referendum will get them out of a big hole.

But the danger is that they would dig themselves in even deeper if they called the Nats' bluff.

If the SNP want a referendum on independence, they should have to win enough seats at the next Holyrood election to push through legislation on their own.

Labour shouldn't give them a helping hand to get independence through the back door.