Humza Yousaf has said the SNP could make life “very difficult” for Labour in a hung parliament if it refused to give Scotland the power to call a referendum.
Whilst admitting that independence is not the “consistent settled will of the Scottish people” the first minister indicated that a no deal on independence would be a deal breaker if Labour looked to make a coalition government in a hung parliament.
Labour have repeatedly ruled out a referendum deal with the SNP but with Sir Keir Starmer calling for a snap election following the resignation of Boris Johnson as an MP this could be a debate we see play out sooner rather than later.
Last month senior figures in the SNP said they could hold the balance of power in the next parliament – the most explicit statement yet of their strategy ahead of the next general election.
The balance of power. Any “there’s no political route” naysayers reading this take heed.
A party that was formed 90 years ago, which had to wait 30 years for it first MP, and by 1992 only had 3 MPs, could very possibly hold the balance of power in Westminster. Ironic considering the SNP don’t actually want to be in Westminster.
The point here is that the SNP, love them or loathe them, have plodded away throughout the years, gained control of Scotland, a former Labour stronghold, and now sit poised to be kingmakers in Westminster.
This just goes to show that a small party can make a difference in a two party election. Having a goal and doggedly working towards it does get results.
It’s just a shame they’re not real nationalists.
