Nicola Sturgeon’s fresh appeal for Labour-SNP pact

NICOLA Sturgeon has said that the SNP has “similar views” to Labour on key issues as she stepped up calls for an anti-Conservative alliance after May’s election.

SNP party leader Nicola Sturgeon addresses the annual STUC conference at Ayr Racecourse. Picture: PA

The First Minister, in a speech to the Scottish Trades Union Congress annual meeting in Ayr today, made a fresh appeal to Ed Miliband to work with the SNP in the interests of promoting workers’ rights, in the event of a hung parliament

Ms Sturgeon said SNP MP would “vigorously and loudly” support a Labour government in some areas as she stressed common ground between the two parties over plans to crackdown on zero-hour contracts and increase the minimum wage.

She said: “I know Ed Miliband addressed you yesterday, and let me say in some areas, like improved working conditions, a determination to crack down on zero hours contracts and increasing the minimum wage - though I would like to go further than he would to £8.70 by 2020 - on these and many other areas we have similar views.

“Where we support proposals a Labour government would put forward we will support them vigorously and loudly.”