Gordon Brown publicly distanced himself from Wendy Alexander�s new policy towards an independence referendum yesterday.

MICHAEL SETTLE and ROBBIE DINWOODIE

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Gordon Brown publicly distanced himself from Wendy Alexander's new policy towards an independence referendum yesterday.

However, the Prime Minister's move came as Labour in Scotland said it might bring forward its own proposals on an independence vote if the SNP kept the country in limbo until 2010.

Asked if the Prime Minister supported his Scottish colleague's view, Mr Brown's spokesman said: "Clearly, there is a debate taking place in the Scottish Parliament on the timing of any potential referendum on Scottish independence.

"The Prime Minister has always been confident of the strength of the argument in favour of the Union and believes a referendum on Scotland leaving the Union would be defeated."

When it was suggested this reply, rather than an endorsement of Ms Alexander's view, was a distancing from it, the spokesman repeated the same answer. He did so several times, replying on one occasion: "He thinks the Labour Party in Scotland speaks for the Labour Party in Scotland."

Asked when the PM knew about Ms Alexander's new position, the spokesman said it was "a matter for her" but Mr Brown obviously spoke to his Labour colleagues, including the Scottish leader, "all the time".

Last night, The Herald was told by a Downing Street source that Mr Brown was fully supportive of Ms Alexander's attempt to put the SNP on the spot but would not be drawn into specific tactics as these were a matter for the Scottish Labour Party.

He said voters would ask themselves why was Labour addressing this issue when the Nationalists were running away from it.

Labour in Scotland said yesterday it might bring forward its own independence referendum proposals if the SNP waited until 2010.

But the SNP responded by welcoming Labour to the fold of those who want Scots to decide on a new constitutional settlement.

"It would now be untenable to do a U-turn on a U-turn when that bill comes forward," said an aide to the First Minister, who said the principle of trusting the people was more important than arguments about timing.

"It now looks as if it's practically impossible for Wendy Alexander to do other than support the bill the government will bring forward to have a referendum in 2010," said the Salmond aide.

There was also fury from Labour's Holyrood partners in building a pan-Unionist coalition, with Tories and Liberal Democrats lambasting Ms Alexander's U-turn.

Ms Alexander received the backing of her colleagues - at Holyrood, if not Westminster - for her new stance of backing a referendum.

Speaking at a press conference, Ms Alexander said: "The issue has been around for 30 years and we should not be hanging around debating it for another three years.

"I have absolutely no fear of the Scottish people's verdict and so I will not lead Scottish Labour into the lobbies to vote down the right of the people of Scotland to speak.

"Nor do I believe the spectre should hang over the country interminably and divert attention from other real issues."

But she was clear on wanting to block the SNP route to a referendum, saying: "I firmly believe the SNP should not control the timing, the question and the agenda. Labour have every intention of holding them to account."

She repeatedly refused to say whether she would bring forward her own bill, but spoke of the "delicious prospect" of the government being forced to veto such a bill on the basis it clashed with its own.

In the Commons, Scottish Labour MPs attended their regular meeting when "mixed views" were expressed about Ms Alexander's new position.

Some back benchers felt there was "merit" in what she had put forward and it would "wrongfoot" Mr Salmond.

However, others felt the timing was wrong. "It's badly timed given Gordon has had the week he has just had. This should have happened nine months ago," said one.