One of the main ingredients behind the SNP’s continued electoral success is Tory rule at Westminster.
Alex Salmond became First Minister when Tony Blair was in charge, but it was only when the Conservatives swept to power at Westminster three years later that the SNP dominated the political landscape.
Austerity, Brexit chaos, Boris Johnson and the Truss Government’s economic vandalism are the rocket fuel that keep the SNP in power.
But times are changing and the polls show voters across the UK believe Labour is now, after the dismal Miliband and Corbyn years, a credible and viable alternative.
Keir Starmer’s 20 point poll lead is likely to narrow and the next election may well be tighter than expected, but it is hard to imagine anything other than Truss losing the next election.
Judging by the statements of top SNP figures at their conference in Aberdeen, Nicola Sturgeon’s party does not know how to handle the prospect of a Labour revival.
In a poor speech yesterday, SNP depute leader Keith Brown claimed: “Any suggestion that a Labour Westminster government will be better for Scotland is simply laughable. Keir Starmer is just another Tony Blair.”
SNP President Michael Russell also referred to the “downward spiral of Tory and Labour Governments”, as if there is no difference between the parties.
Blair’s record as Prime Minister was far from perfect, given the catastrophe of the Iraq war and botched policies like ID cards.
But on his watch Labour delivered devolution, a minimum wage, a massive tax credits programme for the low paid as well as slashing child and pensioner poverty.
To airbrush these achievements out of history is an exercise in disinformation and an insult to Scottish voters who backed the last Labour government.
A Starmer win would also embark on a policy programme that is clearly different to the Truss Government, such as removing charitable status from private schools and creating a publicly-owned energy firm.
The SNP require a more sophisticated message to Labour that criticises Starmer’s caution while refraining from inaccurate “Red Tory” jibes.
A shrewder response would recognise a Labour Government presents opportunities for the SNP on the constitution.
To be clear, Starmer will not waste political capital by granting indyref2. He does not want to be PM to implement another party's policy.
But he is committed to boosting Holyrood’s powers and the SNP-led Government could legitimately demand a role in shaping the next stage of devolution.
Sturgeon’s indyref2 ‘plan B is to turn the next general election into a vote on independence, which a poll this morning found little support for.
A better alternative would be to have constructive relations with the next UK Government and ensure a Starmer Government fulfils its promises to Scotland.
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