Scottish Labour leader calls for EU re-entry

Scottish Labour leader Michael Marra has called for the UK to re-join the European Union, saying it should be a 'long-term objective' for the whole country.

Marra acknowledged there would be 'serious questions' over issues such as currency and borders before the UK could return to the EU.

He said re-joining the EU is not the current policy of the UK Labour Party and not the current policy of the UK government.

The Scottish Greens' co-leader Gillian Mackay said she agrees with Marra that Scotland's 'place is in the EU' - but added it was hypocritical to support this while ignoring 'growing demand' for an Independence referendum.

Marra has set a very clear policy direction for his party. So why now?

Andy Burnham took the first step by taking his tin opener to this can of political worms at the Labour Party conference as he seeks closer ties with the EU.

There's a crunch summit in Brussels a week on Friday.

But Marra is going further than the prime minister.

He points out rejoining the EU is not the current policy of the UK government and that this is a distinct, Scottish Labour position.

Marra is a new leader and he needs to make the news with a stand-out position, so that also helps to answer the 'why now' question.

Scottish Labour believe their leader has two clear roles; challenge the Scottish government and influence the UK government.

Marra thinks he can be influential and it's a change even from the position he held when he took over as leader.

There may be a fair amount of Scottish public support for this and brings Labour alongside the SNP as they both burnish their pro-EU credentials.

Labour and the SNP will continue their traditional battle and now Marra has a new fight on his hands to fully convince his party of his stance as he demands 'rejoin' be included in their next general election manifesto.

Michael Marra's speech came ahead of the prime minister travelling to Brussels next week where he is expected to sign a series of deals with the EU.

These will be focused on bringing down post-Brexit trade barriers on food and farming, as well as working more closely on emissions trading and making it easier for young people from the UK to work, live and study in Europe, and vice versa.

Responding to Marra's speech, SNP deputy leader Keith Brown said: 'Having accepted that people are able to revisit the EU referendum decision taken