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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Lib Dems will not do Labour deal | Lib Dems will not do Labour deal |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The Liberal Democrats have ruled out a coalition deal with Labour in the Scottish Parliament. | The Liberal Democrats have ruled out a coalition deal with Labour in the Scottish Parliament. |
| The Lib Dems' Tavish Scott told BBC Scotland that if his party was not able to share power with the SNP, it would be on the backbenches. | The Lib Dems' Tavish Scott told BBC Scotland that if his party was not able to share power with the SNP, it would be on the backbenches. |
| The Nationalists, with 47 MSPs, are now the largest Holyrood party. | The Nationalists, with 47 MSPs, are now the largest Holyrood party. |
| Meanwhile, the Scottish Green Party has agreed in principle to open talks with the Nationalists on the formation of a new government. | Meanwhile, the Scottish Green Party has agreed in principle to open talks with the Nationalists on the formation of a new government. |
| The Greens, who have two MSPs, said there was no barrier to co-operating with Alex Salmond's party and have not ruled out a formal coalition deal. | The Greens, who have two MSPs, said there was no barrier to co-operating with Alex Salmond's party and have not ruled out a formal coalition deal. |
| The two parties would have a combined strength of 49 MSPs - well short of the 65 required to command a majority at Holyrood. | The two parties would have a combined strength of 49 MSPs - well short of the 65 required to command a majority at Holyrood. |
| Alex Salmond has to show he is capable of and has the character to be the leader of a new government, if he is to form one Jack McConnellScottish Labour leader | Alex Salmond has to show he is capable of and has the character to be the leader of a new government, if he is to form one Jack McConnellScottish Labour leader |
| Speaking on the Politics Show, Mr Scott ruled out working with Scottish Labour, as his party did in the pre-election coalition government. | Speaking on the Politics Show, Mr Scott ruled out working with Scottish Labour, as his party did in the pre-election coalition government. |
| But he said the key stumbling block was the SNP policy for a referendum on Scottish independence, which the Lib Dems, who have 16 MSPs, oppose. | But he said the key stumbling block was the SNP policy for a referendum on Scottish independence, which the Lib Dems, who have 16 MSPs, oppose. |
| "The SNP have to decide whether they want independence and for the next four years to be dominated by independence," said Mr Scott. | "The SNP have to decide whether they want independence and for the next four years to be dominated by independence," said Mr Scott. |
| "They have to ditch the referendum." | "They have to ditch the referendum." |
| The Nationalists will seek to "open informal discussions" with the Liberal Democrats over the coming days. | |
| SNP deputy leader Nicola Sturgeon said: "We believe there should be a referendum with independence on the ballot paper, but beyond that we have said we will be as constructive as possible to try and put together a government in Scotland's best interests." | |
| Meanwhile, First Minister Jack McConnell told BBC Scotland he "stands ready" to step in if the SNP is unable to form a government in Scotland. | Meanwhile, First Minister Jack McConnell told BBC Scotland he "stands ready" to step in if the SNP is unable to form a government in Scotland. |
| Nuclear power | Nuclear power |
| The Scottish Labour leader said Mr Salmond and the SNP had the right to make the first move in attempting to form an administration. | The Scottish Labour leader said Mr Salmond and the SNP had the right to make the first move in attempting to form an administration. |
| If it failed, he said, Labour would then make its move. | If it failed, he said, Labour would then make its move. |
| The Greens and the SNP already agree on several policies - both support independence and are opposed to new nuclear power stations. | The Greens and the SNP already agree on several policies - both support independence and are opposed to new nuclear power stations. |
| In separate statements, the two parties described their discussions as "positive and constructive". | In separate statements, the two parties described their discussions as "positive and constructive". |
| The Nationalists, who won one more Holyrood seat in the election than Scottish Labour, said their aim was to establish a "progressive coalition". | The Nationalists, who won one more Holyrood seat in the election than Scottish Labour, said their aim was to establish a "progressive coalition". |
| Green co-leader Robin Harper was re-elected to Holyrood | Green co-leader Robin Harper was re-elected to Holyrood |
| An SNP, Liberal Democrat and Green coalition would have a single-seat majority in Parliament. | An SNP, Liberal Democrat and Green coalition would have a single-seat majority in Parliament. |
| The situation may mean that Independent MSP Margo MacDonald could hold a crucial role in the formation of a new government, although she said she did not expect to be part of a coalition. | The situation may mean that Independent MSP Margo MacDonald could hold a crucial role in the formation of a new government, although she said she did not expect to be part of a coalition. |
| She also admitted to considering a bid to become the Scottish Parliament's next presiding officer. | She also admitted to considering a bid to become the Scottish Parliament's next presiding officer. |
| "I will work with whoever, I believe, has got the best game plan for the good governance of Scotland and who is also able to disentangle the discussions we must have on our constitutional powers," she said. | "I will work with whoever, I believe, has got the best game plan for the good governance of Scotland and who is also able to disentangle the discussions we must have on our constitutional powers," she said. |
| Mr McConnell told BBC Radio Scotland's Sunday Live programme that the SNP had a responsibility to try and form a government. | Mr McConnell told BBC Radio Scotland's Sunday Live programme that the SNP had a responsibility to try and form a government. |
| "But it's far too early to tell, in this 28-day period in which we have the opportunity to form a new government in the Scottish Parliament, if they will succeed in doing that," he said. | "But it's far too early to tell, in this 28-day period in which we have the opportunity to form a new government in the Scottish Parliament, if they will succeed in doing that," he said. |
| "Alex Salmond has to show he is capable of and has the character to be the leader of a new government, if he is to form one. | "Alex Salmond has to show he is capable of and has the character to be the leader of a new government, if he is to form one. |
| "If he can't achieve that then the other parties in the parliament will need to consider what to do next." | "If he can't achieve that then the other parties in the parliament will need to consider what to do next." |