SCOTTISH Labour’s most senior candidate in the European elections has denied the poll is about Brexit.
David Martin, an MEP for 25 years and top of his party’s list in Scotland, said it didn’t matter who won in relation to Brexit, as it would not alter the numbers at Westminster and break the impasse among MPs.
Mr Martin was speaking to the media after an event for Scottish Labour candidates at Glasgow’s Lighthouse on Monday.
His comments are at odds with public opinion, which sees Thursday’s poll as a judgment on the UK Government’s handling of the Brexit process.
Nigel Farage’s hardline Brexit Party is expected to win UK-wide, while Theresa May’s Conservatives are expected to receive a thrashing from voters.
In Scotland, polls suggest the pro-Remain SNP will win three of the country’s six seats.
But Mr Martin said: “They’re not Brexit elections because it doesn’t matter who wins the European elections in terms of the election debate.
“Nothing will change in terms of the Brexit debate in terms of .... nothing will change in terms of the fundamentals in Westminster, the numbers in Westminster will not shift.
“We don’t know if we are going back for three months, for a year, for five years. Therefore it is important that we send people to the European parliament who are actually going to do a job of work there.”
He said he was standing to “renew and reform” the EU, and warned that victory for Mr Farage could cause a dangerous Tory over-reaction.
He said: “If the Brexit Party was to do extremely well, then I think the Tory Party, which is already in rapid retreat, will actually just go into a complete state of panic and go for a hard Brexit.”
Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard, who has said he would prefer a Labour Brexit to staying in the EU, also suggested the election was not about Brexit.
He said: “David’s fought elections since 1984 and he will tell you that these elections are never solely about who we elect to the European Parliament.
“There are nearly always about broader social and economic issues.”
Mr Leonard and Mr Martin were also forced to defend the selection of Amy Lee Fraioli, who is ranked fourth on the party’s Scotland list, as a candidate.
Mr Fraioli, who works for Labour MSP James Kelly, previously described herself as an “advocate for independence” and a Leave voter.
Asked about her views, Mr Leonard said: “Well Amy Lee, like the rest of the candidates, [stands] on a Labour manifesto.
“The Labour manifesto is clear that we are a party which rejects nationalism.”
Asked if she no longer held those views, Mr Martin added: “I have spoken to her. She doesn’t. She no longer holds those views.”
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