THE SNP have pledged they will try to “undo Brexit as far as possible” if they become kingmakers in the event of a hung parliament following the next election.
The party are gearing up for the possibility of Labour failing to gain a majority in next year’s General Election and say they hope to hold Keir Starmer’s feet to the fire over Brexit and an independence referendum.
Pollsters said that the recent local elections in England meant it was uncertain that Starmer would command a majority – despite a sizable poll lead over the Conservatives.
Sky News' election expert Professor Michael Thrasher said Labour would need to see a greater swing than last week's gains to command a majority in the Commons because the party was so badly beaten in 2019.
Alyn Smith, the SNP’s spokesperson for EU accession, said his party would “force” Labour to get the UK back into the single market and reintroduce freedom of movement.
He said the price of SNP support for a minority Labour government in the event of a hung parliament would also include giving Scotland the power to hold indyref2.
Smith said: “Brexit has been a disaster for Scotland and the UK – costing our economy billions, damaging the NHS, and contributing to the cost of living crisis – and there's been a conspiracy of silence on it from Labour and the Tories.
"While independence is the only way for Scotland to regain our EU membership, the SNP could hold the balance of power at the next election and we would use our influence to undo Brexit as far as possible and demand the UK has a close relationship with the EU.
"With all the signs pointing to a hung parliament, the SNP could force a minority Labour government to rejoin the EU single market, reintroduce free movement and transfer power for an independence referendum to Edinburgh, so Scotland can regain our place in Europe.
"The SNP would also push for the UK to rejoin Erasmus and Horizon Europe, and defend the European Court of Justice, while ensuring Scotland has the power to escape Brexit entirely with independence.
"At the next election, voting SNP is the only way to beat the Tories in Scotland - and a strong team of SNP MPs can get the best deal for Scotland, including powers over an independence referendum, a close relationship with Europe and making the cost of living crisis a key priority.”
Labour are insistent they will form a majority government after the nect General Election – accusing the SNP of wanting to keep the Conservatives in power.
The party's only MP in Scotland, Ian Murray, hailed the English local elections as evidence Starmer was heading to Number 10 next autumn.
He tweeted: "Those with a vested interest will claim the English local election results showed something different and will use them to try and keep the Tories in (as the SNP has already started) but a majority Labour government is coming and they know Scottish voters can get it over the line."
