THE BREXMAS ELECTION
First Minister prepares for a pact with Corbyn Civil servants to meet SNP over post-election deal
Deputy Scottish Political Editor
NICOLA Sturgeon and the UK civil service are set to hold talks as she prepares for a post-election deal with Jeremy Corbyn – and a second Scexit vote will be her top demand.
The First Minister said she is preparing to open ‘access talks’ with officials ahead of the General Election, which she believes could result in the SNP holding the balance of power.
As part of a long-standing convention, mandarins can hold discussions with opposition parties to prepare them for potentially winning the keys to Downing Street.
It is understood that Prime Minister Boris Johnson has approved the talks.
It comes after the Tories accused Miss Sturgeon and Mr Corbyn of a ‘back-room deal’ to help Labour form a minority government in the event of a hung parliament.
Last night, opponents said the ‘access talks’ proves there is a ‘risk’ that she could influence power at Westminster.
Mr Johnson has claimed Mr Corbyn is planning two referendums next year – one on Brexit and the other the Scexit vote championed by Miss Sturgeon.
The SNP leader intends to seek a Section 30 order – needed to hold a legally binding referendum – before Christmas, regardless of the election outcome.
Although she has ruled out any formal coalitions at Westminster, she said any party seeking the SNP’s support should not ‘bother picking up the phone’ unless it is prepared to allow a second referendum.
Yesterday, Miss Sturgeon confirmed her plan to hold talks with the UK civil service.
She said: ‘We’re in the process of taking that forward. You know there is a real potential in this election for Scotland, on the other side of it, to hold the balance of power at Westminster.
‘It’s an incredibly powerful position that the country could be in and the SNP, although we have made clear we will not have a formal coalition at Westminster, we want to make sure if we’re in that position then Scotland’s influence is maximised. Talks like this are an important part of that process.’
Miss Sturgeon said she would be making clear to the civil service that she intends to hold a second Scexit vote – and this will be the key demand in helping any party into power.
The SNP leader confirmed that she is also seeking the devolution of drugs laws to Scotland in order to decriminalise small quantities for personal use and introduce so-called heroin ‘shooting galleries’.
The Scottish Government is seeking a radical overhaul of drugs policy amid a ‘crisis’ north of the Border.
Miss Sturgeon said: ‘We’ll have those discussions with the civil service, so we’ll have a degree of confidentiality in the first instance around that but obvi‘These ously Scotland’s future being decided by the people of Scotland is at the heart of the SNP’s election campaign.’
She added that she wants an ‘end to austerity economics’ and to make ‘sure our NHS is protected in trade negotiations’.
The First Minister went on: are just some of the many issues that we will put on the table as priorities if the SNP and indeed Scotland holds that balance of power.’
Last night, Scottish Conservative leader Jackson Carlaw said there was a ‘very real prospect’ of an SNP-Labour coalition after the General Election, and he warned of the threat that this presents to the Union.
Mr Carlaw said: ‘This simply illustrates the risk involved with voting Labour at the upcoming election – a Labour-SNP coalition is a very real prospect.
‘The fact is that Nicola Sturgeon is planning to launch another independence referendum by Christmas with the help of Labour. Only a vote for the Scottish Conservatives will protect Scotland against the SNP’s Indyref 2.’
On Sunday, Mr Johnson ruled out granting a second independence referendum as long as he is Prime Minister – meaning that if he wins the General Election, Miss Sturgeon would not be able to rerun the 2014 vote until at least 2025.
Asked how she planned to deal with the Conservative leader’s continued refusal to approve a divisive referendum, Miss Sturgeon said: ‘If Boris Johnson has shown one thing since he became Prime Minister it is that his word cannot be trusted on anything.
‘But, if you take that at face value, then what he appears to be saying is that he doesn’t care how people in Scotland vote, he is going to ignore those votes.’
Mr Corbyn has stated that he will not block a second referendum if the Scottish parliament backs the move.
‘Incredibly powerful’ ‘Illustrates risk in voting Labour’