One law for the SNP, another for England

IT has long been a point of principle for the SNP that they withdraw from voting in Commons debates which involve issues devolved to the Scottish parliament.

In the ongoing crisis – surely not too strong a word – over ‘English votes for English laws,’ SNP supporters have worn this stance as a badge of pride.

At a stroke, Alex Salmond – bidding for a return to Westminster – says his party might ditch the policy in a shameless sell- out that would see them wring concessions in exchange for SNP votes t o prop up a minority Labour administration. Mr Salmond seems oblivious to the clear hypocrisy here. The SNP have long bemoaned the imposition of Tory decisions on Scotland, where the party has a solitary MP. Yet now they are prepared to hire out MPs, like mercenaries bought by the highest bidder, and use them to enforce decisions on an English electorate that has cast not a single vote for the Nationalists.

Buoyed by the influx of new members to his party, Mr Salmond seems to think he has carte blanche to do as he will with no fear of consequences.

But while rabid separatists might be happy with his stance, wiser heads within the party may find such grubby horsetrading distasteful.

The Labour Party, too, must be looking askance at the SNP’s alarming shopping list of demands from prospective coalition partners.

The removal of Trident from the Clyde seems a mere bagatelle in one of Nicola Sturgeon’s rock-star style rallies, but it is a game-changer that could bring down a government in the real world.

The First Minister and her predecessor are convinced they will be kingmakers in a hung parliament after the 2015 General Election. If they keep on in this conceited manner, they may find their hubris punished.