Nicola Sturgeon confirms the SNP WOULD prop up a minority Labour government led by Jeremy Corbyn as long as he allows a second referendum on Scottish independence
- Nicola Sturgeon said she is willing to lend SNP support to a Labour government
- She said price of support would be allowing second independence referendum
- Jeremy Corbyn has said he would not stand in the way of holding second vote
- But Labour leader has insisted it cannot take place in first two years of power
Nicola Sturgeon today confirmed the SNP would be willing to prop up a Labour minority government in exchange for a second Scottish independence referendum.
Ms Sturgeon said she would not expect Labour to support breaking up the Union of the UK or even to support holding a second national ballot.
But she insisted that the price of SNP backing would be a commitment from Jeremy Corbyn not to stand in the way of Scotland holding another breakaway vote.
The Scottish First Minister’s comments are likely to be pounced on by the Tories who have been telling voters that Ms Sturgeon would actually be in charge of a minority Labour administration.
Nicola Sturgeon, pictured on the campaign trail in Rutherglen yesterday, said today that the SNP would prop up a minority Labour government
Ms Sturgeon said the price of SNP support would be a commitment from Jeremy Corbyn, pictured during an appearance on BBC Breakfast this morning, not to stand in the way of a second independence referendum
Boris Johnson said last week that ‘we all know who is going to be wearing the tartan trousers in that relationship’ if Ms Sturgeon and Mr Corbyn strike an informal agreement.
Mr Corbyn has previously said he would not stand in the way of a second independence referendum if there was a majority in Holyrood in favour of holding one.
However, he said that if he becomes PM on Thursday he would not allow a vote to take place within the first two years of a Labour-led government.
But Ms Sturgeon is adamant that the vote must take place before the end of next year and she is confident Mr Corbyn would buckle if that was the price of securing the keys to 10 Downing Street.
Speaking today, Ms Sturgeon said: ‘We would offer support to a minority Labour government.
‘The conditions for that we’ve set out very clearly in our manifesto… an end to austerity, an end to the welfare cuts that have caused so much misery, to so many people and yes respect for the principle that the question of whether there should be an independence referendum and the timing of that should be decided by the Scottish Parliament elected by the Scottish people and not dictated by Westminster.’
She continued: ‘My proposition to the Scottish Parliament is that that should be next year and that’s the issue of principle.
‘I don’t expect Labour to support independence or even support there being a second independence referendum, but I would expect them to accept that that decision should be for the Scottish Parliament not for Westminster.’
Mr Johnson addressed the prospect of a Labour government propped up the SNP at an campaign event last week.
He told workers at a knitweat factory in Derbyshire: ‘Mathematically I am afraid there is only one alternative to that approach and that is Jeremy Corbyn and the Labour Party propped up by Nicola Sturgeon and the Scottish nationalists.
‘We all know who is going to be wearing the tartan trousers in that relationship.’