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SNP considers working with Tories SNP approves working with Tories
(about 20 hours later)
The SNP's long-running ban on working with the Conservatives could be overturned at local government level. The SNP's long-running ban on working with the Conservatives has been overturned at local government level.
The party's national council will discuss a proposal put forward by councillors that would let them form coalition deals with other parties. The party's national council backed a proposal put forward by councillors which allows them to form coalition deals with other parties.
Co-operation with the Tories was banned during Margaret Thatcher's government.Co-operation with the Tories was banned during Margaret Thatcher's government.
But a motion at the party's national council in Perth proposes that SNP council groups may form administrations with any other group or individual. The decision does not pave the way for a coalition deal at Holyrood, but allows the parties to work together in local authorities.
The SNP proposal does not mention the Conservatives specifically, but proposes co-operation with any group or individual, subject to approval from the party's national executive committee.
'Practical politics''Practical politics'
It follows an increase in the number of SNP councillors in the May elections, carried out using proportional representation. It comes after the introduction of proportional representation in the May council elections, meaning many authorities no longer have one party in overall control.
The new voting system also meant a rise in the number of local authorities with no party enjoying an overall majority.
The SNP proposal does not mention the Conservatives specifically, but proposes co-operation with any group, subject to the party's national executive committee.
The move has been described by one SNP councillor as "practical politics".The move has been described by one SNP councillor as "practical politics".
However, it is not expected to pave the way for any kind of coalition deal at Holyrood. The national council also backed an amendment which said "current party policy as it applies to parliamentary coalitions should not be changed".
An SNP spokesman said: "The motion as amended simply reflects the realities of Scottish local government post the introduction of the single transferable vote.
"It doesn't apply to national politics and the parliament, where we are absolutely delighted with the success of the minority SNP Government and we have no plans to change that."