Labour’s Kerr defects to Yes

THE LABOUR Party politician who contested the Shetland seat at the last Scottish parliamentary election has revealed that he will vote in favour of independence in September’s referendum.

Jamie Kerr is vice-chair of the Renfrewshire South constituency, the seat of Douglas Alexander, shadow foreign secretary, and Jim Murphy, who is shadow secretary of state for international development.

In a statement issued on Wednesday Mr Kerr said: “It’s been a difficult journey, but as a Labour activist, I’m decided to vote Yes in September.

“The party has taken a strident No line without discussion, and it’s hard to speak out against that, but I’ve made my decision to be open about it.

“It is not natural for Labour to be anti-independence, especially with no discussion.”

He added that he would continue campaigning for the party after a Yes vote: “Our party is not and has never been defined by the constitution. It is a party of social justice and ordinary members, although they may not speak out because of the party line, will make their decision on that basis.”

The move was welcomed by local Yes campaign chairman Brian Nugent who said more and more Labour party members were going against the party line.

“As Jamie suggests, there was no discussion within the Labour Party in Scotland, to the extent that Labour for Independence were not even allowed a stall at the Scottish Labour conference.

“Political parties are supposed to be about discussion, but not Scottish Labour.”

In the May 2011 election Kerr held his party’s share in the isles when he came fourth with 6.6 per cent (620 votes).