The independence referendum was a once in a lifetime vote and ending austerity should be the priority instead, said Jeremy Corbyn.

He also said Labour is committed to the people having a vote on the Brexit deal, but that it is "a long way off".

With Nicola Sturgeon stating she will set out the timing for a second referendum soon, Mr Corbyn also said that the 2014 poll was a “once in a lifetime” vote.

Speaking in Glasgow to the Evening Times, on a second independence referendum the Labour leader said: “I’m of the view that a referendum took place in 2014 it was supposed to be a once in a lifetime decision. 

“I think what Scotland needs what the rest of the UK needs is a government to invest across the whole country and end austerity and that is our priority.”

He also said Westminster should legislate for a public vote on the deal. 

He said the Labour amendment last week in the commons set out the Labour principles.
Which he said included: “A preparance of parliament to legislate for a public vote on the outcome of the negotiations, so we are at that stage.

“That’s what we put forward in the amendment but we are a long way off that.”

Mr Corbyn said Labour would be pushing for a General Election but that the odds on that were changing daily.

He said: “The betting objectives on a General Election vary from day to day. But I think we will continue to press for a General Election because the government doesn’t have a majority in parliament, it was the first government in recorded history to be found in contempt of parliament and it had the biggest ever defeat for a government on a key plank of its policy which was Theresa May’s Brexit deal.”

He said he would continue to put down no confidence motions in the government in a bid to force the Tories out.

He said: “They’ve only maintained themselves in office because of the fixed Term Parliament act.

And we will continue with motions of no confidence at “times of our choosing” in a bid to force the Tories out.

He said Theresa May is “running down the clock until March 29 and she will “threaten parliament by saying you either vote for my deal or you vote for no deal. 

“It’s not acceptable for government to behave in this way.”