Labour rules out vote pact with SNP
Shadow chancellor John Mcdonnell has ruled out any deal with the SNP to put Jeremy Corbyn in Downing Street.
Speculation has been growing about how Labour could form a government if May’s administration collapses as a result of the Brexit chaos – with a second independence referendum the possible price of SNP support.
But Mcdonnell yesterday rejected the idea that the Conservatives’ deal with the DUP, which led to £1 billion of additional spending in Northern Ireland, could provide a model for a pact with the SNP.
He said: “We wouldn’t have a deal with other political parties.
“We believe we will win the next election with a handsome majority. If things go wrong and we’re the largest party we’ll form a minority government.
“We will bring forward our transformative programme and if other parties support it that’s up to them.
“If they don’t we’ll go back to the people and explain that you could have had your lives transformed but for the votes of the SNP or the Lib Dems or whoever.”