This article is from the source 'independent' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/generalelection/election-2015-snp-will-hold-thebalance-so-have-the-power-says-alex-salmond-10126415.html

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Election 2015: SNP will ‘hold the balance, so have the power’ says Alex Salmond Election 2015: SNP will 'hold the balance, so have the power' says Alex Salmond
(about 11 hours later)
The Scottish National Party would use its “power” over a minority Labour government to amend budgets in Scotland’s favour, Alex Salmond has warned.The Scottish National Party would use its “power” over a minority Labour government to amend budgets in Scotland’s favour, Alex Salmond has warned.
Handing the Tories a powerful propaganda weapon just weeks before the general election, Mr Salmond suggested yesterday that the SNP would extract a high price if Ed Miliband could only enter Downing Street with SNP support.Handing the Tories a powerful propaganda weapon just weeks before the general election, Mr Salmond suggested yesterday that the SNP would extract a high price if Ed Miliband could only enter Downing Street with SNP support.
“If you hold the balance, then you hold the power,” he said. “Hopefully that decisive block of SNP MPs will move the Labour Party in a different direction.”“If you hold the balance, then you hold the power,” he said. “Hopefully that decisive block of SNP MPs will move the Labour Party in a different direction.”
His comments, in a round of broadcast interviews, were immediately seized on by the Tories, with defence minister Anna Soubry branding them “terrifying”. The Tories then released a campaign video highlighting what they said was the threat posed if the SNP held the balance of power in Westminster. But the Scottish Labour leader Jim Murphy said the SNP would have “no bargaining chips” to control a minority government headed by Mr Miliband, as they had already ruled out working with the Tories.His comments, in a round of broadcast interviews, were immediately seized on by the Tories, with defence minister Anna Soubry branding them “terrifying”. The Tories then released a campaign video highlighting what they said was the threat posed if the SNP held the balance of power in Westminster. But the Scottish Labour leader Jim Murphy said the SNP would have “no bargaining chips” to control a minority government headed by Mr Miliband, as they had already ruled out working with the Tories.
Mr Salmond, who is standing in the Gordon constituency, told the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show it would be “very good for Scotland” if there was a decisive number of SNP MPs after 7 May.Mr Salmond, who is standing in the Gordon constituency, told the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show it would be “very good for Scotland” if there was a decisive number of SNP MPs after 7 May.
Asked if that meant Ed Balls or another Labour chancellor would have to negotiate their Budget with the SNP, he replied: “Yes, any minority government has to negotiate in order to win a majority for its proposal… To deny that is to deny reality.”Asked if that meant Ed Balls or another Labour chancellor would have to negotiate their Budget with the SNP, he replied: “Yes, any minority government has to negotiate in order to win a majority for its proposal… To deny that is to deny reality.”
Pressed on what kind of deal was possible with Labour, Mr Salmond said: “The Labour Party has ruled out a coalition… I think it is more likely to be a vote by vote arrangement.” He said he believed Scottish independence was now “near inevitable”, and hinted that a commitment to a new referendum could be included in the SNP manifesto for the 2016 elections in Scotland.Pressed on what kind of deal was possible with Labour, Mr Salmond said: “The Labour Party has ruled out a coalition… I think it is more likely to be a vote by vote arrangement.” He said he believed Scottish independence was now “near inevitable”, and hinted that a commitment to a new referendum could be included in the SNP manifesto for the 2016 elections in Scotland.
Appearing alongside the former Scottish First Minister on the show, Ms Soubry said: “The thought that we are in a position where you can be actually controlling in the way that you have described… fills me with absolute horror.”Appearing alongside the former Scottish First Minister on the show, Ms Soubry said: “The thought that we are in a position where you can be actually controlling in the way that you have described… fills me with absolute horror.”
Mr Murphy told the BBC’s Sunday Politics: “It is either Labour or the Tories. You cannot vote for a Labour government by proxy... It is one or the other.” Asked about polls suggesting Labour could lose dozens of seats to the SNP, Mr Murphy said his party had not been “good enough” recently, but argued that the public was “starting to listen”.Mr Murphy told the BBC’s Sunday Politics: “It is either Labour or the Tories. You cannot vote for a Labour government by proxy... It is one or the other.” Asked about polls suggesting Labour could lose dozens of seats to the SNP, Mr Murphy said his party had not been “good enough” recently, but argued that the public was “starting to listen”.