THE SNP’S CON-TRICK MANIFESTO

Glossy launch disguises real agenda, warn critics, as Sturgeon details conditions for second referendum

NICOLA Sturgeon was last night accused of a ‘con trick’ after she unveiled a manifesto that desperately tried to disguise her bid to break up Britain. The glossy magazine that is her contract with the people contains a meagre three references to her support for independence – hidden among more than 16,000 words.

But minutes after leaving the stage to rapturous applause at yesterday’s sell-out event in Edinburgh, the First Minister used an exclusive interview with the Scottish Daily Mail to threaten a second referendum.

For the first time, she said an ‘out’ vote i n the Tories’ proposed poll on EU membership would be justification to reopen the question of breaking up the UK.

That would involve ripping up her vow to Scots that last year’s contest was a ‘once-in-a-generation’ decision that would stand for at least 15 years.

Miss Sturgeon also revealed she intends to be in London on May 8 – the day after the General Election – to personally l ead the SNP’s negotiating team in

the event of another hung Parliament. In a clear warning to her predecessor, Alex Salmond, she said that she would take charge of any talks, even though she is not running for a Westminster seat and he is.

The First Minister, riding high on polls suggesting the SNP is on the brink of a land slide unprecedented in modern British politics, also said:

A large number of Nationalist MPs will push for ‘full fiscal responsibility’ for Holyrood, starting with the devolution of the minimum wage, business taxes and key benefits.

Many Labour voters in England and Wales – and significant numbers of its MPs – preferred her Left-wing vision to that of Ed Miliband’s.

New rules on fixed term parliaments mean the SNP could seek to block key pieces of legislation, including Budgets, without bringing down a minority government.

Speaking at the Edinburgh International Climbing Arena, Miss Sturgeon’s manifesto launch was on a scale that even Mr Salmond could not have dreamed of.

The First Minister received thunderous applause from her supporters when she said: ‘ The SNP will always support independence.’

On the issue of a Scottish independence referendum, the First Minister has said in recent weeks that ‘something substantial’ would have to change before a second contest is held.

But yesterday she told the Scottish Daily Mail that a Tory government seeking to take Scotland out of the EU against its will could be that trigger.

She said Nationalist MPs would seek to amend an EU Referendum Bill to insist on

‘Doesn’t want to make Westminster work’

a double majority’ – meaning that unless England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland each vote to leave the EU, the UK would remain a member state.

She said: ‘I’m quite clear – a vote for the SNP at this election, I’m not taking that as a mandate for another referendum.

‘So it would have to be something like the EU situation, if there was an out vote across the UK and Scotland wants to stay in.’

She added: ‘If I put a commitment to a referendum in any future SNP manifesto, people have to vote for that manifesto, so I can’t do that lightly. I have to be sure that there is a change of circumstances that has led to people by majority opinion wanting another referendum.’

However, as she desperately tried to convince Scots she has accepted the resounding No vote in last year’s referendum, she added: ‘But this election is not about independence.’

Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson said last night: ‘Nicola Sturgeon pretending she cares about the Union’s wellbeing is a con trick too far.

‘Nobody believes she wants to make Westminster work. SNP MPs will be sent to the Commons with a simple mission – to destroy it from the inside.’

Libdem Scottish Secretary Alistair Carmichael added: ‘SNP MPs elected on May 7 are not going to play their part in rebuilding and rebalancing our economy.

‘They are going there to break up the United Kingdom.’

Scottish Labour leader Jim Murphy also hit out, saying: ‘The SNP promised last year that the referendum was a once in a generation deal.

‘By refusing to rule out another referendum in their manifesto today, the SNP have broken that pr o mise to the Scott is h people.’