Labour’s new shadow Scottish Secretary has said he was right to refuse to rule out a coalition with the SNP, despite sparking a furious row within his party.
On a visit to Aberdeen, Dave Anderson also suggested that Scottish Labour politicians could be overruled on the issue by their colleagues south of the border.
Senior Scottish Labour figures were enraged by comments the English MP made in an interview with The Herald this week, in which he said that Labour “may well” have to consider an arrangement with Nicola Sturgeon’s party to form a government at Westminster.
One party source described the reaction to the remarks as “unprintable”.
Asked about a coalition, Mr Anderson said: "It is far too early to even contemplate that, but what I am not prepared to do on behalf of the Labour Party nationally is to rule that out completely.
"If that is the price that we have to pay to prevent another rabid right-wing Tory government then, I tell you what it is, we have got to at least think about it and discuss it.
"Three-and-a-half years before a possible general election it is a conversation we don't need to have."
He added: "Obviously Scottish Labour would be the loudest voice in the room if and when we ever ... have to contemplate coalition."
Many fear the party risks giving Scottish voters the message that they can vote SNP and still get a Labour government.
They argue that only a Labour majority secures the keys to No 10 because of the UK’s multi-party system, and point to last year's general election when Northern Ireland’s DUP harboured hopes of being the kingmakers who kept the Conservatives in power.
Asked about a coalition earlier this week, Mr Anderson said: “I would hope we don’t ever need one".
However, he added: “If we get further down that line we may well have to consider it.
"But in the meantime, we have a new leader who has (been in charge) for only 10 months."
A Scottish Labour spokesman said: "Scottish Labour doesn't support any UK Government deal with the SNP. We will always campaign for a Labour Government, whether at Holyrood or Westminster."
The question of a Labour/ SNP deal at times dominated last year’s General Election.
In the months leading up to the short campaign Scottish Labour MPs had frantically urged Ed Miliband to rule out any deal with the SNP.
Many were furious when he at first rejected only the idea of a formal coalition.
He did rule out any form of working arrangement days before voters went to the polls, but many within the party felt it was by then too late.
The Conservatives had seized on the issue and suggested to voters in England that they should not elect a Prime Minister who was going to be in the SNP’s pocket.
Last week Labour leadership contender Owen Smith ruled out any deal with the SNP.
Mr Smith said that in his view the SNP was not a "proper social democratic party".
In Aberdeen Mr Anderson met with North Sea oil workers and shop stewards, who recently took part in their first strike in almost three decades.
He also warned against calls for Scottish Labour to separate from the rest of the party.
He said: "There is absolutely no evidence that is being suggested or mentioned by anyone that could happen.
"I would hope that whoever is the leader of our party that never happens. Any split of that kind will only be detrimental to all of us."
He did not meet Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale on the trip, citing a diary clash.
But he said that he planned to see her "as soon as possible" and wanted to have "the best possible relationship".
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