Labour: Vote for SNP is vote for Tories

Published on Sunday 11 October 2009 22:24

LABOUR's leader at Holyrood Iain Gray has warned a vote for the SNP will be a vote for the Conservatives, after First Minister Alex Salmond suggested that his party could prop up a minority Tory administration on an issue-by-issue basis.

Mr Gray seized on remarks by Mr Salmond that the SNP could hold the balance of power at the general election, and it would be a "good time to maximise Scotland's influence".

Ahead of the SNP's conference this Thursday, Mr Salmond had said Scots would like the idea of "the Westminster parliament being hung by a Scottish rope".

Mr Salmond also vowed to act responsibly in the event of a hung parliament.

He said: "Common sense would tell you that people would regard it as a good time to maximise Scotland's influence. The more MPs you've got, the more you could realistically expect."

The remarks were designed to show that a vote for the SNP at Westminster – where the party hopes to increase its strength from six to 20 MPs – would not be wasted.

However, it threatened to backfire as opposition politicians have said this proves the SNP is cosying up to the Conservatives, whose increase in popularity in England and Wales has not been mirrored north of the Border.

It is thought that the SNP could support the Conservatives on an issue-by-issue basis in exchange for an agreement on an independence referendum and extra funding for Holyrood.

Deputy leader Nicola Sturgeon insisted there would be no pacts or deals. "We'd vote in Scotland's interests. If the Tories act against Scotland's interests, the position will be to vote them down," she said.

Yesterday, Mr Gray pounced, saying: "We know that Alex Salmond said he didn't mind the economic policies of Margaret Thatcher but it's now clear he is prepared to line his party up with the Tories. This is a betrayal of Scotland."

He said the SNP had forgotten the damage dished out by previous Conservative administration, citing "the families hammered by poll tax, the jobs lost as mines and factories closed".

"It appears that the SNP has forgotten the harm that the last Tory government did to Scotland. Now we have Nicola Sturgeon admitting the SNP would support a Tory government. This may suit the SNP but it's not in Scotland's interest.

"The Tories will hit ordinary families hard if they ever get into power and the SNP are happy to support that. It's unforgivable."

An SNP spokesman insisted the party would never form a coalition with the Conservatives or agree to any "deals".