Sturgeon responds to claim SNP/Labour deal would lack legitimacy

Nicola Sturgeon has rubbished claims that a Labour/SNP deal would lack legitimacy, arguing a government which can “win support that reflects the whole of the UK”, is preferable to a Conservative Government running Westminster.

Speaking at an event in Dumfries, the First Minister attempted to highlight the amount of leverage presented to the SNP by operating within the Fixed Term Parliaments Act in the event of a hung parliament.

The SNP claims if no party wins a majority, it will push Labour for a more “progressive stance” on areas such as the minimum wage, which it would increase to £8.70 per hour, along with higher spending on the NHS.

“If Labour remain committed to Tory cuts, we will give their MPs a choice – vote with the Tories for cuts or vote with the SNP for an end to austerity.

“And if Labour push for parliament to spend £100bn on new nuclear weapons we will vote against it and we will challenge others to vote with us to stop the renewal of Trident,” she said.

Sturgeon also looked to quash claims that a deal between the SNP and Labour would lack legitimacy, with Home Secretary Theresa May having claimed that it would be the “biggest constitutional crisis since the abdication”.

Sturgeon said: “Westminster is supposed to be the parliament and the government for the whole of the UK. It often hasn't felt that way for Scotland as we have had to put up with Tory governments that we have rejected. I am sure parts of England have felt exactly the same.

“So surely a test of legitimacy that should be applied to whatever Westminster government is formed after this election cannot simply be that it is the largest party in England. The test that must be applied is whether a government can build a majority and win support that reflects the whole of the UK. 

She added: “So if on Friday morning there are a number of progressive voices elected to Westminster from across the whole of the UK who – with Labour – can lock the Tories out and ensure influence and representation for all parts of the UK, that would be more balanced, surely, than a party trying to take power without UK wide support.”

The Scottish Liberal Democrats responded to accuse the SNP of arrogance in claiming to speak for Scotland.

Scottish Lib Dem leader Willie Rennie said: “This shows a high degree of arrogance and conceit that the SNP believe they have won the election already before the polls have even opened. They wrongly argue that SNP is for all Scotland and all of Scotland is SNP.

He added: “In each of our eleven held seats, voters face a clear choice between the Liberal Democrats, who offer stability, unity and decency. Or the SNP, whose MPs will spend all of their time seeking grievances and divisions to put forward a second referendum. In each of our eleven held seats, the race tight but the choice is clear - people must back the Lib Dems if they want to stop the chaos and the uncertainty of the SNP.”