With a month to go for the general election, and with neither of the two main political formations — Labour and Conservative — establishing a clear lead in opinion polls, it may well be the Scottish National Party (SNP) that determines the political complexion of the next coalition that will administer from Westminster.
Following up on her superb performance at a nationally broadcast pre-election debate in which the leaders of seven contesting parties participated, Nicola Sturgeon, the charismatic and politically astute leader of the SNP, called for an anti-austerity alliance that Labour leader Ed Miliband will lead and SNP will be a part of.
An election like no other
Writing in the Sunday Observer on the forthcoming election — “one like no other in modern times” — Ms. Sturgeon said, “We want to work with a progressive government, not destroy one, and if we have a role to play in a future Westminster Parliament that is what we will do.”
Arguing that a coalition is “no bad thing for democracy; rather it is a great opportunity for change,” Ms. Sturgeon went straight to the point: “I repeat my challenge to Ed Miliband: if together our parties have the numbers required after 7 May, and regardless of which is the biggest party, will he and Labour join with us in locking David Cameron out of Downing Street?”
Ms. Sturgeon also used her article to fiercely deny media reports of a leaked memo in which she reportedly told the French Ambassador that Mr. Miliband is “not prime ministerial material” and that her party would far prefer Mr. Cameron.
The French Ambassador has already denied the report and Ms. Sturgeon has asked for an urgent inquiry to be conducted by the head of the U.K.’s civil services into the issue.
Scottish politics has changed dramatically between the last general election and the present one. While Scotland returned Labour in 41 of a total of 59 Scottish constituencies and the SNP in only six, that picture may well be reversed on May 7, as the SNP is far ahead in the popularity charts with Labour losing both support and credibility due to the position it took during the Scottish referendum last year. Scotland is today no longer the traditional stronghold it once was of the Labour Party.
Last month, Mr. Miliband categorically ruled out any alliance between his party and the SNP after the elections. On Saturday, he joined the chorus of criticism directed at Ms. Sturgeon on the leaked memo allegations, accusing her of saying one thing in public and doing another in private.
The Labour Party has been accused by its critics on the Left as being an ‘austerity-lite’ party that has vacillated on key anti-austerity issues. Its rejection of the SNP’s offer will only serve to reinforce that perceptions.
A coalition is no bad thing for democracy; rather it is a great opportunity for change, says the SNP leader
