SCOTTISH Labour has removed a Holyrood candidate after comments she made about a second independence referendum.
Hollie Cameron, who was standing for Glasgow Kelvin, said a second vote could take place in the next few years.
Party leader Anas Sarwar has repeatedly stressed his opposition to another referendum, insisting politicians should focus on the pandemic.
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Ms Cameron said she was disappointed by the party's decision to remover her.
She had told the Sunday National: “I do know the Scottish Labour Party has a policy that says the right to have a referendum is something the Scottish Labour Party respects.
“The only quibble appears to be the timing and there are different opinions in the Labour Party.
“There are some of us who think that timing should be when the public wants and when the electorate wants to have that referendum.
“And there are those who say we can’t possibly have a referendum while trying to rebuild our country after Covid.
“That to me is something that is not mutually exclusive – I think we can consider our constitution and rebuild after Covid if there is the political will to do that.”
She added: “It is just a matter of whether you think we should have that in the next parliamentary term or not. I say why not?”
Ms Cameron continued: “I don’t think I am at odds with Anas Sarwar when it comes to the right of the Scottish people to determine their future.
“Where Anas and I differentiate I think is that the message he is driving is that we should focus on one thing, on recovery from coronavirus.
“I think if we have a willing and engaged public and capable parliamentarians, we could do it in the next few years definitely.”
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Ms Cameron, a Yes voter in 2014, told the paper she was "open to voting for a socialist independent Scotland, but what is being put forward by the Yes campaign currently is not something I am looking for".
She added: “I think there are definitely quite a few people out there who, when it comes to a vote, will have a look at the context around them and decide when there is an actual vote. That is how I feel.”
A Scottish Labour spokesman said: "Hollie Cameron was not able to satisfy an SEC [Scottish executive committee] interview panel that she would follow the Scottish Labour group whip if elected as an MSP, and the SEC panel has therefore withdrawn their endorsement of her candidacy, meaning that she is ineligible to be a Scottish Labour candidate.
"Arrangements will be put in place to fill the vacancy promptly.”
In a statement, Ms Cameron said: "I am disappointed in the SEC's decision to withdraw support for my candidacy.
"I have now received written confirmation of this decision and the reasoning behind it and I thank SEC members and party staff for their time.
"I have been very touched by the support I have received from Glasgow Kelvin CLP, party members and important figures in the Labour movement. I am also humbled to have received messages of support from the general public.
"My position on another referendum has been clear for years and was clear throughout the selection process. I was selected by a large margin either because, or in spite of my view.
"I am a dedicated campaigner who is loyal to the Labour Party and my home city.
"Following the leadership election, Anas Sarwar stated that Scotland hadn't had the Labour Party it deserves; I did and continue to believe I am the Labour candidate Glasgow Kelvin deserves."
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