Sir Keir Starmer says Scotland is not “stuck” in the union, but said he will not support the calls for a second independence referendum.
The Labour leader said the priority must be the economy, and added he believes people in Scotland are most concerned about finding a way to pay their bills.
But despite acknowledging the UK is a “voluntary union”, he said Scottish independence will only make a “bad situation worse”.
His comments have been slammed by the SNP as an “insult to the people of Scotland”.
‘Of course it is voluntary’
Speaking on The Sunday Show, Mr Starmer said: “I understand people in Scotland want change and are fed up with the Tory government in Westminster.
“It is my job to sort that out by winning the next general election and then Scotland will have a Labour government to work with.”
He added he rejects the argument that putting a border between Scotland and England will be good for the economy.
Mr Starmer added: “Of course it is a voluntary [union].
“There are fantastic things we have achieved in the UK and we have done that as four nations.
“Tackling climate change, conflicts such as the war in Ukraine, and dealing with the energy security issues can only be solved by the four nations working as one entity.
“Of course Scotland is not stuck in it, but this is about priorities and the priority at the moment is people paying their bills and growing the economy.”
He added both the SNP and the Conservatives are using the independence debate to cover up their “record of failure” and said the Labour manifesto will give a “very powerful case for the union”.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon is planning to hold a referendum on Scottish independence in October 2023, and the UK Supreme Court is currently looking at whether Holyrood has the powers to hold such a vote.
Starmer slammed for comments
The Labour leader’s comments have been slammed as “entirely ignorant” by the SNP who have dubbed his television appearance as “astounding incompetence”.
Kirsten Oswald, the SNP’s deputy Westminster leader, said: “All he managed to do was confirm that if you vote Labour, you get the same failed Tory policies.
“His denial of Scottish democracy is straight out of the same Tory playbook used by Theresa May, Boris Johnson, Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak.
“It is not for any Westminster politician to decide Scotland’s future – it is solely a matter for the people who live here.
“And the people have already decided that they want another referendum.”
A disastrous interview for Keir Starmer on #SundayShow. Asked why Labour has lost in Scotland, he said Labour was out of step with the priorities of the public. He then slams the door on a Referendum on Independence. There might be a clue to the problem there!
— John Swinney (@JohnSwinney) November 6, 2022
Scottish Conservative chairman Craig Hoy added: “Starmer’s limp response on the union was vintage Labour.
“It proves they aren’t strong enough to face down the SNP and safeguard Scotland’s important place in the United Kingdom.”
He added only the Scottish Conservatives can tackle the SNP’s “obsession with another damaging referendum”.
‘We don’t want open borders’
During his appearance on The Sunday Show Mr Starmer also said the UK is recruiting too many people from overseas into the NHS.
Currently there are around 6,000 vacant nursing and midwifery posts in Scotland’s NHS.
The SNP government says it will spent £8 million on hiring 750 nurses and midwives from overseas this winter.
However Mr Starmer said immigration is not the solution to the ongoing staffing crisis, and said more needs to be done to train people already in the UK to join the NHS.
He said: “We don’t want open borders.
“Freedom of movement has gone and it’s not coming back.
“I think we’re recruiting too many people from overseas into the health service.”