Angela Rayner has said she is against Labour “going anywhere near” a second referendum on Scottish independence.
The party’s deputy leader insisted that the break-up of the union would not be the answer to the problems facing the UK.
Speaking during a show at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Rayner also ruled out the prospect of working with the SNP.
“It’s not a possibility that we would work with the SNP – we want to win a majority,” she said.
“I don’t think the people of Scotland should leave behind the people of Ashton-under-Lyne, either.
“The poverty that we face is the poverty they face and we both need a Labour government in order to make the changes that we need to make, whether that’s in Scotland or in England.”
Rayner told broadcaster Iain Dale that a Labour government at Westminster could “make all the difference”.
She said: “Respect is earned, it’s not given and I think we’ve been making progress to earn that respect.
“But I think breaking up the union is not the answer.
“Leaving us to perpetual Conservatism at Westminster is not very nice…but actually having a Labour government could make all the difference.”
The deputy Labour leader also outlined the importance of Scotland.
She added: “Scotland is absolutely key, it’s key to Manchester, it’s key to the whole of the United Kingdom.
“I’m against us going anywhere near a second referendum, if I’m honest.
“I think the Brexit referendum was enough for me.”
