The new leader of Scottish Labour has backed Scotland's right to decide its constitutional future.

BBC News understands Michael Marra's party is willing to support that position in a non-binding vote at Holyrood later.

Labour remains opposed to independence and another referendum, with Marra challenging the SNP to show that constitutional change is the "settled will" of the country before a second vote is held.

The Scottish government has argued that a majority of pro-independence MSPs at Holyrood represents a mandate for a second referendum, though Prime Minister Andy Burnham has said such a ballot is "off limits".

After being elected as Scottish Labour leader at the weekend, Marra agreed with the principle that Scotland should be able to determine its constitutional future.

Nodding to previous referendums on devolution and independence, he told STV: "Yes I believe the people of Scotland have the right to decide their future, and they did so in 2014 and in 1997.

"They gave an unequivocal answer on both of those occasions."

However, Marra said the "challenge" for the SNP was to establish that independence was the "settled will" of Scots and to answer any questions they had about the process.

The Scottish government motion to be debated at Holyrood, in the name of First Minister John Swinney, urges parliament to agree that "Scotland is a nation that has a right to decide its own future".

It is expected to pass with the help of votes from the Scottish Greens.

Labour has tabled an amendment which, while not disputing the statement, adds that efforts should be stepped up to tackle child poverty.

The government would not be expected to oppose such sentiments, but its support for the amendment could depend on the tone of the debate.

While Marra's predecessor Anas Sarwar previously said that Scotland had the right to decide its own future, he consistently voted against any parliamentary motions asserting that right and criticised the SNP's "obsession" with independence.

The Scottish Parliament has backed several non-binding motions in support of a referendum in recent years, with Swinney aiming to hold a second vote within the next five years.

However, successive UK governments have refused to countenance a referendum.

The Supreme Court ruled in 2022 that the Scottish Parliament cannot hold an independence referendum without Westminster's consent.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham says he has no plans to grant another poll on the issue after rowing back from comments suggesting another could be held when the people of Scotland desire it.

There is no doubt that John Swinney's motion on Scotland having the right to choose its own constitutional future will be approved.

The SNP and Greens - as independence supporting parties - have a majority of votes at Holyrood and that seals the deal.

The more intriguing question is what will Scottish Labour, under the new leadership of Michael Marra, do?

They remain opposed to independence and another referendum but only yesterday Marra said he believes in the principle that Scotland has the right to decide, so it would be odd if his MSPs did not vote that way.

The only wrinkle is that Labour is also seeking support for their amendment recognising that Scotland has immediate challenges, like child poverty, that require urgent attention.

There's no reason SNP politicians could not support that, given the stress John Swinney puts on that very issue. It would look odd if they didn't.

What's not entirely clear is if Labour support for the Scottish government's position on a referendum is conditional on the SNP voting with them on child poverty. Let's see.