Scottish Labour deputy leader Alex Rowley has said he "would not oppose" a second independence referendum.

The Mid Scotland and Fife MSP also said he did not think the Union between Scotland and the rest of the UK as it presently stood was "sustainable or effective".

He made the remarks in an article on his website about Brexit and its potential consequences for Scotland.

Scottish Labour insisted it does not support a second independence referendum while the Scottish Conservatives slammed Rowley's comments as another example of how Labour had "lost its way". The SNP welcomed his remarks.

Rowley wrote: "I have also lost count on the number of people that have asked me whether I support a second referendum on independence.

"My response is that I would not oppose such a referendum.

"I accept the SNP were clear in their manifesto that the Scottish Parliament would have the right to hold another referendum if there was a 'significant and material change' in the circumstances that prevailed in 2014, such as Scotland being taken out of the EU against our will."

Rowley went on to caution there were many issues a new case for independence would have to answer, particularly around trade and currency, and criticised those who sought to "romanticise" an independent Scotland without examining "the nuts and bolts" of what leaving the UK to stay in the EU would mean.

He added: "That said, I do not believe the current constitutional settlement within the UK is sustainable or effective, and so I will make the case in the coming months for a more federal structure and a stronger voice for Scotland within the UK and in the world."

Rowley was elected to the position of deputy leader within the party along with current leader Kezia Dugdale in August last year.

He also headed up the party's campaign earlier this year for the Scottish Parliament elections.

The Scottish Tories said there was "no justification" for a second independence vote.

The party's deputy leader Jackson Carlaw said: "We had a referendum less than two years ago and two million people backed our place in the United Kingdom.

"That vote should be respected and the Scottish Conservatives will oppose any attempt by the SNP Government to bring one forward."

"Quite simply, there is no justification for a second independence referendum and it is a great pity that Scottish Labour no longer seems to believe that this is the case.

​"No one has a clue what Labour stands for any more and Mr Rowley's comments will only add to the sense that this is a party which has completely lost its way."

Carlaw asked: "The question now is whether Kezia Dugdale agrees with him, or whether this is another issue on which she and her deputy disagree?"

A Scottish Labour spokesperson responded: "Alex Rowley has not supported a second independence referendum."

A source within the party said: "We do not support a second independence referendum - as we laid out in our manifesto - and we will not be changing that position anytime soon."

Scottish Labour's manifesto for the 2016 Holyrood elections called for both sides on the independence divide "to move on".

It added: "We rule out another referendum on independence during the lifetime of the next parliament."

The SNP said Rowley was "absolutely right" in his assessment.

Linda Fabiani MSP said: "These are welcome comments from Scottish Labour's deputy leader - making clear that the Scottish Parliament has the right to hold an independence referendum if it becomes clear this is the best or only way to protect Scotland's place in Europe, and that he would not oppose such a referendum.

"Alex Rowley is also absolutely right to point out that any such referendum would be a completely different prospect from the 2014 referendum - the fact is that the UK which Scotland voted to stay part of two years ago simply doesn't exist anymore in the aftermath of the Brexit vote.

"The First Minister has rightly said that as we seek to protect Scotland's place in Europe, all options are on the table, including a second independence referendum, and it is encouraging to see the emerging cross-party support for that, should it be the chosen route to maintain our EU status."