Douglas Fraser: "Labour's shock new tactics revealed"

Wendy Alexander, Labour's Holyrood leader, was cut adrift by the party's Scottish establishment, with two former first ministers joining in the chorus of internal party criticism over her call for an immediate referendum on independence, while Gordon Brown made it clear that he was "not persuaded" of her strategy.

Last night's criticism came as the Labour leader at Holyrood again sought to justify her call for an early referendum.

With the Prime Minister confirming the political distance between himself and his once-favoured protege, former first minister Henry McLeish attacked Ms Alexander.

"This is the worst of all possible worlds," said Mr McLeish. "We have marginalised the Calman Commission, confused the Scottish public, taken the Liberals and the Tories out of the equation and seemed more enthusiastic than the SNP to have a referendum."

He added: "Labour supporters and activists will find it difficult to work out what on earth is going on. It's hard to understand how Labour could get itself into this position. What about the public? They have been treated with contempt."

Jack McConnell, whose resignation ushered in Ms Alexander as Labour's Holyrood leader, warned of the need for "clarity" between Labour's leaders in Scotland and Westminster, and said they did not always have to agree on policy. "If there is a disagreement, let's have it out in the open and just admit that," said Mr McConnell. "What we need is to be able to move on with a clarity about what each is saying and get back to challenging the SNP government here in Scotland."

Former Scotland Office minister Brian Wilson, who opposed the devolution settlement, joined the public censure of Ms Alexander. He said: "To commit to a referendum which ultimately only the UK Government can deliver, without checking out what the UK Government thinks when it is of the same party - I think carelessness would be an understatement."

Ms Alexander was left clinging to her policy for an immediate referendum on independence as the Prime Minister and her own brother Douglas Alexander, the International Development Secretary, said they were not persuaded of the case for a vote on the future of Scotland.

Mr Brown was careful yesterday to defend Ms Alexander as an "excellent leader" of Labour in Scotland, but he pledged to do "whatever is necessary" to preserve the United Kingdom.

Mr Brown called for an alliance of pro-Union parties, together with business and trade unions, to fight to prevent the break-up of the UK. "Some issues are bigger than party politics and need to be addressed in the common interest," said Mr Brown.

Despite such a policy gulf opening up between her and Mr Brown a week on from her "bring it on" call for an immediate referendum, the embattled Ms Alexander again denied misrepresenting the PM's view when she earlier claimed his support on the issue. "I have the Prime Minister's support in pursuing whatever tactics are right in the Scottish Parliament," she said.

Ms Alexander dismissed talk of an irreparable rift with Mr Brown or that she had any plans to resign. "What we have learned this week is that the SNP are unwilling to let Scotland speak," said Ms Alexander. "I don't think it's gambling with the constitutional future of Scotland to say we trust the people. A year ago Labour in Scotland lost an election and I said we would listen - and we have listened to people in Scotland."

First Minister Alex Salmond branded her the "Comical Alexander" of Scottish politics. "The situation is utterly farcical for Labour," said Mr Salmond.