Jeremy Corbyn will today launch his bid to become Prime Minister as he tells activists he would campaign tirelessly against a second vote on Scottish independence.
The Labour leader will present his party’s “radical and responsible programme of hope” to an assembly of supporters in Bradford later today.
The manifesto will pledge Labour’s total opposition to any second referendum, clarifying Mr Corbyn’s position on the issue following reports in March that he said a new vote “should be held”.
Mr Corbyn is expected to back Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale’s claim that independence could lead to severe austerity measures for Scotland’s most deprived communities.
“It is unwanted and unnecessary and we will campaign tirelessly to ensure Scotland remains part of the UK. Independence would lead to turbo-charged austerity for Scottish families,” he will say.
Speaking ahead of the launch, Mr Corbyn said that Scotland “doesn’t need or want a second independence referendum”.
“Holding another referendum on leaving the UK is the wrong thing to do for Scotland’s economy, especially when there is so much economic uncertainty from the Tories’ plans for a reckless Brexit,” he added.
However SNP depute leader Angus Robertson has called on Scots to reject Labour’s claims, saying the party is “completely incapable of standing up to the Tories and a million miles away from forming a government.”
Meanwhile, senior Tories have claimed voters across the UK will have doubt about Mr Corbyn’s commitment to keeping the UK together and many would fear a pact between the SNP and Labour.
Patrick Mcloughlin, Chairman of the Conservative Party, said: “Jeremy Corbyn seems to have different views in some of his answers on whether he things there should be a second referendum or not. We’re very clear that there shouldn’t be.
“We know that the SNP continually vote with the Labour Party,” he added. “We know that Nicola Sturgeon would prop up a Labour government, she’s been fairly open about that.”