SCOTLAND’S most senior trade unionist backed a second vote on independence today.

STUC general secretary Grahame Smith has urged Scottish Labour to support another vote on secession from the UK following last month’s general election.

In the past Mr Smith’s view on a second referendum had been ambivalent, with his view shifting in favour after pro-independence candidates won 48 of the 59 Scottish seats in Westminster.

But he said that this did not mean he was now supportive of Scottish independence itself.

His comments follow those of two Labour MSPs, Neil Findlay and Monica Lennon, who said that the Scottish Parliament, not Westminster, should have the power to hold a referendum.

However, the Morning Star understands this is the view of Mr Smith himself and not an indication of any change in STUC policy.

Writing in the forthcoming issue of the Scottish Left Review, the STUC figurehead said that Labour should be considering the constitution in depth, as it did with devolution in the 1980s and 1990s.

He said: “The First Minister has made it clear she will now push for indyref2.

“This has left Labour in a quandary: it cannot hold, as it has, that the overall election result gives the Tories a Brexit mandate and simultaneously maintain the result in Scotland cannot be viewed as a mandate for indyref2.

“The democratic wishes of the people of Scotland need to be acknowledged. The Scottish Labour movement should support indyref2.”

The SNP has welcomed Mr Smith’s comment, with deputy leader Keith Brown calling it “a significant and welcome intervention.”

Scottish Labour has said constitutional policy will be considered as part of its ongoing post-election internal review.

Mr Smith has announced he will retire as STUC general secretary in May.