Scottish nationalists say end to austerity price for UK post-election deal
SNP could back minority Labour government in closely-contested national election on May 7
The Scottish National Party will set out demands for higher spending and changes to British defence policy later on Monday ahead of a close UK-wide election it hopes will turn it into a kingmaker for a future minority Labour government.
Britain faces its most unpredictable election since the 1970s, with opinion polls showing neither Prime Minister David Cameron’s Conservatives nor the opposition Labour Party likely to win an outright majority in the May 7 vote.
Opinion polls suggest the Scottish National Party (SNP), which has rebounded after leading a failed bid for independence last year, is set to virtually wipe out Labour in Scotland.
That could see it become Britain’s third biggest party by seats. If that does happen, it hopes to hold the balance of power in the event of an inconclusive election result and to have a decisive say over which party forms the next government.
It has already said it would only do a deal with Labour.
Later on Monday, it is expected to say it would try to use any influence it gets to end state spending cuts.
“The sharp point for this election is the fact we have an opportunity to bring austerity to an end, and that will be the top priority for the SNP,” the SNP’s John Swinney, Deputy First Minister of Scotland, told BBC radio.