Nicola Sturgeon has issued a bold “no constituency is off limits” message to Scots as she pledged to put the “final nail” in the political coffin of Scottish Labour.
The SNP leader, addressing her party’s conference in Glasgow yesterday, claimed a strong SNP return in the General Election would allow her party to put “backbone and guts” into any future Labour government.
Unveiling a string of policy ideas, Miss Sturgeon said she would go further than Labour on a hike in the minimum wage, suggesting it could top £8.70 by 2020.
A £20 million fund to tackle domestic violence was also announced.
The SNP leader also claimed her party would reform the “discredited” Westminster system for ordinary people across the whole of the UK.
She said: “As long as Scotland remains part of the Westminster system, we will be your allies in seeking to shake up and reform that outdated and discredited system once and for all.
“Westminster needs to change. To be more responsive to the needs and demands of ordinary people, wherever they are in the UK.
“So to people in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, I make this promise. The SNP stands ready to work with you in making that positive change for all of us.”
She added: “We need not be powerless in the face of remote Westminster decisions.
“We can make Westminster sit up and take notice and, friends, that is exactly what we intend to do.”
The First Minister called on Labour to match her pledge to force a vote of confidence “to lock David Cameron out of Downing Street” if Labour and the SNP combined have more seats than the Tories.
On the issue of the House of Lords, Miss Sturgeon said she wanted it abolished.
She said: “The House of Lords has no place in a democratic society. Its members are paid £300 a day for just showing up. And it’s totally tax free. That’s got to stop.”
Labour leader Jim Murphy said: “No one will be fooled by Nicola Sturgeon’s claims to be the UK’s best friend when the SNP’s entire purpose is trying to break up Britain.
“There was no mention today of the austerity max that would be inflicted on Scotland if the SNP were to follow through on their policy of full fiscal autonomy.
“The First Minister knows, but won’t admit, that SNP sums don’t add up and her economic plans would lead to a £7.6 billon black hole in tax revenues.”
Enjoy the convenience of having The Sunday Post delivered as a digital ePaper straight to your smartphone, tablet or computer.
Subscribe for only £5.49 a month and enjoy all the benefits of the printed paper as a digital replica.
Subscribe