Labour for Independence

Labour for Independence claimed to adhere to Labour's "founding principles [...] of fairness, equality and justice" and sought to offer a vision of an independent Scotland for Labour supporters, in lieu of Scottish Labour doing so. An opinion poll in March 2014, suggested that almost a quarter of Labour voters were planning to vote "Yes" in the referendum The appeal of Labour for Independence had been attributed to frustration and disappointment felt by some Labour voters in Scotland during the New Labour era of Tony Blair and Gordon Brown in the 1990s and 2000s including William McIlvanney. == History ==

Formation Labour for Independence was established in 2012 by Allan Grogan, a dissatisfied Scottish Labour member from Angus. It initially consisted of a website and a Facebook group. It was expected to have hosted 100 people. Policies adopted at the conference include complete opposition to the Trident nuclear weapons programme. 2014 independence campaign Allan Grogan spoke at the March and Rally for Scottish Independence in September 2013, at which a contingent of Labour for Independence supporters reportedly waved "red flags with a thistle in the upper hoist quarter". After the referendum results were announced, Grogan left the Labour Party and stood down as LFI's co-convenor, claiming that Labour had moved to the right and that the success of the no vote would be "seen as an endorsement of the Scottish Labour Leadership and how they defer to their masters at Westminster". He joined the Scottish Socialist Party. Relaunch and later activity Labour for Independence relaunched in January 2017 after the 2016 Brexit referendum, with Scott Abel now serving as its national organiser. In response to the organisation's relaunch, a Scottish Labour spokesperson said the party's official position was to oppose independence as it would mean "billions of pounds of cuts that would hit the poorest in Scotland hardest", which it described as "austerity". == Controversy ==

In July 2013, Labour for Independence was branded as an "SNP front" by Anas Sarwar, deputy leader of Scottish Labour, who said that SNP politicians and supporters were "masquerading" as Labour supporters and giving a false impression about the campaign, though LFI founder Allan Grogan responded by stating: "There are many instances in which non-LFI volunteers were pictured around our banner. At no time have we ever claimed these people to be volunteers of LFI." In August 2013, the Sunday Herald reported that Celia Fitzgerald, an office-bearer within the group, had been an SNP activist since leaving Labour over the Iraq War. She rejoined Labour in 2012 with the aim of changing the party's stance towards the referendum. LFI leader Allan Grogan said he knew of examples of SNP members handing out LFI leaflets. He admitted only 40% of his group's 80 or so members are actually in the Labour Party. Grogan also said LFI had received initial financial support from Yes Scotland, regarding the £245 accommodation bill for the LFI's first conference. The organisation was the only referendum campaigner that had failed to submit accounts. == See also ==