Sturgeon: ‘We’ll work with Corbyn’
NICOLA STURGEON has set out her conditions for supporting a minority Labour government in the event of a hung parliament at Westminster.
Speaking at the SNP’s General Election campaign launch yesterday, she said alongside the right to hold a second independence referendum, further powers for Holyrood and increased investment must also be on the table if any deal is to be reached.
Ms Sturgeon ruled out a formal coalition with Labour, but she has indicated the SNP would be willing to support a Jeremy Corbyn government on a vote-by-vote basis.
She said: “I think it is important for people in Scotland to consider how much more influence Scotland could have if the SNP are in there holding the balance of power in Westminster in a hung parliament.
“We would argue for and seek to uphold that principle of the people of Scotland deciding our own future, but we’d also be pushing for a real end to austerity, more investment in our public services – until such time Scotland is independent – devolution of powers over migration, employment law so we can protect workers’ rights and raise the living wage, devolution of drugs laws so we can better tackle the drugs emergency we face, more action on climate change to see Westminster match the ambitions of the Scottish Parliament.”
The First Minister also appealed to all Remain voters, insisting the SNP is Scotland’s “Remain party” in the election.
She said: “I would say to Remain voters to vote for the SNP to strengthen our hand in trying to stop Brexit for the whole of the UK, but also to put the future of Scotland into Scotland’s hands.”
Meanwhile, Mr Corbyn was facing further pressure over anti-Semitism in Labour after one of the party’s most prominent
Jewish figures declined to endorse him as prime minister.
Dame Margaret Hodge – an MP for 25 years – refused to be drawn on whether she would prefer to see the Labour leader or Boris Johnson in Number 10.
Her intervention came the day after two former Labour MPs – Ian Austin and John Woodcock – said they would be supporting the Tories as they did not believe Mr Corbyn was fit to be prime minister.
Mr Johnson also came under fire after he suggested his Brexit agreement was a “great deal” for Northern Ireland as it would retain access to the EU single market and maintain freedom of movement.
The Liberal Democrats said his comments showed even he recognised Britain would be better off staying in the EU.
Mr Johnson also claimed he has given up drinking until after Brexit is sorted.
The PM’s apparent “do or dry” pledge follows his failure to keep his “do or die” promise to deliver Brexit by October 31.
Mr Johnson was also watched sipping whisky during a distillery visit in Scotland on Thursday, casting doubt on his commitment to the alcohol ban.