THE SNP will not work with Reform UK in any “way, shape, or form”, the First Minister has said.
John Swinney ruled out a deal with Nigel Farage’s party after the SNP’s Westminster leader, Dave Doogan, appeared to open the door to putting Reform in power if the party was willing to agree to a second independence referendum.
Speaking to The National Podcast last week, Doogan said: “We might not – in fact we absolutely will not – share the views of whoever we help into power [in Westminster], but if it unlocks the door to our independence future, well then we will absolutely do whatever we have to do to deliver that.”
However, Doogan U-turned on his comments after the podcast was recorded, saying: “The key point I was making, albeit clumsily, is that the SNP will demand Scotland’s democratic right to choose our own future is respected, regardless of who is in government at Westminster.”
Asked about Doogan's comments by LBC on Monday, Swinney ruled out striking a deal with Farage’s party.
“The SNP has been crystal clear that in no way, shape, or form will we ever work with Reform,” the First Minister said.
Earlier this year, Reform UK’s leader in Scotland, Malcolm Offord, suggested that he could accept an argument for a second independence referendum in 2036.
He told The Herald that after 10 years of work to make Scotland the “best-governed part of the UK”, there could be a discussion about a vote.
“Only once that milestone is achieved, might we have the constitutional debate once again,” he said.
“If you've earned the right by making Scotland more prosperous, more wealthy, more healthy, we can talk about it again.”
Prime Minister Andy Burnham has refused to discuss a second independence referendum, saying it is “off limits”.
Labour have also refused to spell out a route to a second vote, despite calls from within the party to do so.
On Monday, the Daily Record – a Labour friendly newspaper – said that the UK and Scottish Governments should support a “cross-party commission to examine a trigger point” for a referendum.
“A threshold for a referendum should be hard to meet – sustained support for independence of say 60 per cent,” the paper wrote.
“The process should not be rushed, or dictated by SNP impatience. But Scots deserve to know of the pathway to independence and both governments should come together.”
