Nationalists prepare for march on Westminster after Sturgeon surge

NICOLA STURGEON’S Scottish National Party was marching on Westminster today after virtually wiping out Labour north of the border.

The historic landslide — in which the SNP took 56 of Scotland’s 59 seats — means David Cameron faces a fierce battle to hold the Union together.

The Prime Minister pledged to put a “one nation” United Kingdom at the heart of a Conservative government, while he acknowledged that divisions now existed. The Tories have been accused of boosting the SNP’s share of the vote in Scotland — which rose to 50 per cent — with their strategy of warning that the nationalists would hold a Labour-led government to ransom.

The “Sturgeon surge” saw Labour lose 40 of its 41 seats. The Tories and Liberal Democrats were left with one each. It brought about the political decapitation of Westminster big beasts including S c ot s La bour le a der Jim Murphy, Labour campaign manager Douglas Alexander, and Lib-Dem chief secretary to the Treasury, Danny Alexander.

Fo r mer Li b - Dem le a d e r Charl e s Kennedy lost his seat, and Labour were kicked out of what had been Scotland’s safest constituency, Kirkcaldy & Cowdenbeath, previously held by Gordon Brown. As the SNP picked up almost 1.5 million votes, Glasgow North East, went from Labour to the SNP on an incredible 39 per cent swing.

Alex Salmond, expected to lead a party of political novices at Westminster, said: “The Scottish lion has roared this morning across the country. There is a swing under way in Scotland the like of which has not been seen in recorded politics. I look forward to representing every constituent, regardless of their political views.”

Ms Sturgeon, who is travelling down to London today for VE Day commemorations, said: “What we’re seeing tonight is Scotland voting to put its trust