Theresa May accuses Nicola Sturgeon of wanting to ‘pull the strings’ of Jeremy Corbyn government
Just hours earlier Scotland's First Minister called for a 'progressive alliance' with Labour and the Lib Dems
THERESA MAY accused Nicola Sturgeon of wanting to “pull the strings” of a Jeremy Corbyn government as she launched the Tories' Election campaign.
In a blast at Scotland’s First Minister the PM said it was clear the SNP wanted to prop up a Labour Government in an "unstable coalition of chaos".
Just hours earlier Nicola Sturgeon called for a “progressive alliance” with Labour and the Lib Dems post June 8th to keep the Tories out of No.10.
The row echoed the 2015 Election campaign when the Tories issued a poster of Ed Miliband in Alex Salmond’s suit pocket.
It was credited with triggering a decisive swing to the Tories in the last weeks of the campaign – which saw David Cameron win a shock majority.
Jeremy Corbyn was forced to rule out any deal or coalition with the SNP.
In a marked contrast to Ed Miliband he said he would never do a deal with the SNP – saying they were not a “progressive party”.
“The SNP may talk left at Westminster but in government in Scotland it acts right,” he said.
“A genuinely progressive party would not refuse to introduce a 50p top rate of income tax on the richest.”
But Westminster insiders pointed out the only way Labour will possibly be able to get into power is if the SNP lend their support – given the huge number of seats they are likely to win north of the Border.
One Tory said: “We all know Jeremy Corbyn loves to change his mind.”
Nicola Sturgeon admitted Labour were unlikely to win enough seats to even be in contention to form a Government on June 9th.
But her words were seen as a huge gift to the Tories on the first real day of campaigning.
Speaking in Westminster, Ms Sturgeon said: “If the Parliamentary arithmetic lends itself to the SNP being part of a progressive alliance to keep the Tories out of Government then the SNP will seek to be part of that as we said in 2015.”
Theresa May cashed in as she addressed Conservative supporters at her first rally in Bolton.
She said: “There’s a very clear choice at this election.
“This is a choice between strong and stable leadership under the Conservatives, or weak and unstable coalition of chaos led by Jeremy Corbyn.
“And that is very clear. The other parties are lining up to prop up Jeremy Corbyn.”
She added: “So it’s only a vote for the Conservatives that can deliver, and every vote for the Conservatives is a vote for me.”