As if Labour in Scotland doesn’t have enough to worry about.

As well as taking on the SNP, having lost its central belt working class strongholds this century, and taking on a re-invigorated Scottish Tory party, it now has another front to fight on.

It is at odds with the leadership of the UK Labour Party on the subject of a second independence referendum.

READ MORE: Glasgow Labour candidates oppose indyref2

If anyone thought that Scottish politics had moved on from the constitutional divisions of 2014, John McDonnell’s remarks provided a reminder to think again.

Mr McDonnell said that a Labour government at UK level shouldn’t block a second independence referendum, instead he said it was a matter for the Scottish people and the Scottish Parliament to decide.

And with it Scottish Labour’s independence problem was back with a bang.

But John McDonnell is right, isn’t he?

If Scotland wants to have another referendum on independence then Scotland should decide.

It doesn’t mean because you think a UK Government shouldn’t block a vote that you then must think Scotland should be independent.

It is Scottish Labour’s job to persuade people they don’t need another independence referendum in the first place, so the question is never asked.

It will be extremely difficult to argue circumstances have not significantly changed later this year if Britain’s exit from the EU is complete.

Then the question is should Scotland remain within the UK and outside the EU or become independent and seek to rejoin the EU.

READ MORE: Labour would not block second referendum

And then Labour has to make a case for the UK.

It is just another example of the polarisation of Scottish politics along constitutional lines.

Mr McDonnell’s comments however highlight once again a massive electoral problem for Scottish Labour.

It lost independence supporting Scots during and after the referendum campaign to the SNP.

Then it lost a lot of those strongly opposed to independence to the Conservatives in the 2017 Westminster elections and in the council elections the same year.

The Tories have cashed in on Labour’s weakness in this area, positioning itself as the strongest pro union party in Scotland.

They have little else to say other than ‘We said no in 2014 and we meant it’.

It delivered second place in 2016 at Holyrood and won an extra MSP seat in Glasgow followed by eight city councillors.

They didn’t win seats on the back of support for welfare reform policies that’s for sure.

IT was a privilege to be in the company of pupils at Govan High School this week as they discovered their exam results.

It is one of a few schools in Glasgow where not long ago there would be so few achieving passes at Higher it didn’t register statistically.

Pupils like Rachel and Lauren, who we met, with twelve Highers between them may not know it but they are also setting an example to younger pupils at the school.

READ MORE: Govan pupils exam success

And Mark and John who have just finished National 5s and are already setting their targets on five Highers next year.

Many years ago there were hardly anyone staying on beyond fourth year at schools like Govan. By increasing the staying on rates it increases the chances of students gaining Highers and makes it more likely others will stay on in future years.

And so it continues and the gap between schools like Govan and others begins to close.

It is a long process but it is showing results with around 7% at Govan High getting five Highers this year.

Other initiatives like reducing exclusions, mentoring though organisations like MCR Pathways is placing an importance being in school and on learning.

It creates an ethos throughout the school on learning, to get the most out of education whatever level of qualifications you are working towards.

Govan was in the news earlier this year when Jo Swinson used it to highlight the attainment gap between the most and least deprived communities.

Now she is leader of a UK party, with government ambitions, Ms Swinson may want to visit Govan High, meet young people like Rachel, Lauren, Mark and John and the head teacher Nancy Belford.

Then, rather than stereotyping one of our communities to make empty political points on television, she could ask what can she do to help ensure the progress they are making is sustained.