The Mayor of London, Pakistan-origin Sadiq Khan, spoke out ahead of a speech to the Scottish Labour conference in Perth, saying there is “no difference” between nationalists and people who "divide us on the basis of our background, race or religion".
He wrote in the Daily Record newspaper, "The last thing we need now is to pit different parts of our country or sections of our society against each other, or to further fuel division or seek separation."
The Scottish National Party (SNP) leader Nicola Sturgeon branded Khan's comments "spectacularly ill-judged".
It comes after Labour accused the Tories of a "racist" campaign against Khan in the London mayoral contest last year, with Conservative candidate Zac Goldsmith's repeatedly warning that he had shared platforms with extremists.
1/3 I'm a big admirer of @SadiqKhan but today's intervention is spectacularly ill-judged...
— Nicola Sturgeon (@NicolaSturgeon) February 25, 2017
2/3 it is an insult to all those Scots who support independence for reasons of inclusion & social justice - the antithesis of what he says — Nicola Sturgeon (@NicolaSturgeon) February 25, 2017
Khan said that London and Scotland, which both voted against Brexit in last year's European Union referendum, are "twin beacons of progressive values and hope within the United Kingdom". He claimed the "world is becoming an increasingly turbulent and divided place" with the election of Donald Trump in America, the vote to quit the EU and the "rise of right-wing populist and narrow nationalist parties around the world". Khan insisted, "It's up to us, whether in Scotland or in London, to fight this trend." He added: "There's no difference between those who try to divide us on the basis of whether we're English or Scottish and those who try to divide us on the basis of our background, race or religion. "The antidote to Brexit and the rise of right-wing populist parties is not to run away, break away or push our neighbours away. It's to lead in a different direction, the right direction.3/3 and it is a sign of the sheer desperation and moral bankruptcy that has driven so many from Scottish Labour's ranks. Very disappointing.
— Nicola Sturgeon (@NicolaSturgeon) February 25, 2017
What I'll be saying to @scottishlabour today. #ScotLab17 pic.twitter.com/aYInD4Aijw— Sadiq Khan (@SadiqKhan) February 25, 2017
"That is the message I'm taking to the Scottish Labour Party conference today, that now is the time to build unity, create a more United Kingdom and ensure everyone has the opportunities they need to succeed."
Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said the comments were a "sign of the sheer desperation and moral bankruptcy that has driven so many from Scottish Labour's ranks".
The SNP leader tweeted that she was a "big admirer" of the London Mayor but that "today's intervention is spectacularly ill-judged". She added: "It is an insult to all those Scots who support independence for reasons of inclusion & social justice, the antithesis of what he says.
Nicola Sturgeon insists she is not bluffing about second Scottish independence referendum "And it is a sign of the sheer desperation and moral bankruptcy that has driven so many from Scottish Labour's ranks. Very disappointing."
Although the 2014 independence referendum in Scotland resulted in a decisive victory for the union, Sturgeon has indicated she will push for a second referendum following the Brexit negotiations if the terms of the UK’s exit package from the EU are not in the best interests of Scotland.
