Glasgow: Nicola Sturgeon has refused to rule out staging another independence referendum within five years as she prepares to unveil an SNP manifesto that includes a series of Left-wing policies for the entire UK instead of just Scotland.
Outlining an “alternative vision” for Britain that could be implemented in cooperation with Ed Miliband, the First Minister will promise to back Labour’s pledge to cut university tuition fees in England, to stop the supposed privatisation of the English NHS and reverse £3 billion (Dh16.4 billion) of welfare cuts.
In an attempt to portray the SNP as a party that can deliver policies on a UK-wide basis, it will also promise to press a minority Labour Government to abandon austerity, scrap the renewal of Trident and formally recognise Palestine as a state.
The manifesto will make a commitment that the SNP will not use success in next month’s election as a reason to call an independence referendum, with the Nationalists instead demanding progress towards Scotland cutting financial ties with the UK.
But Sturgeon refused categorically to rule out another referendum in the next parliament as she predicted the SNP will be in a “very, very strong and powerful position” to push a minority Labour Government to the Left.
She refused to say that in return she would give Ed Miliband an absolute promise not to pursue a second referendum, arguing the timing of another vote was a democratic decision for the Scottish people.
However, she has said that another vote could be held if there was a “material change” in circumstances. Alistair Darling, the former leader of the pro-UK Better Together campaign, said it would be Sturgeon — not the people — who would decide if this test was met “and it will be when she thinks she’ll win it.”
