Keir Starmer: 'No deal with the SNP under any circumstances'

Keir Starmer has ruled out an electoral deal with the SNP “under any circumstances” as he seeks to win power at Westminster.

The Labour leader will make the pledge in a speech at his party’s conference in Liverpool on Tuesday.

Ian Murray is currently the only Labour MP representing a Scottish constituency – Edinburgh South.

Starmer’s commitment to ruling out any deals with the SNP reflects the stance of Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar.

In his own speech at Labour conference on Monday, Sarwar also made clear that his party would not enter into any deal with the SNP.

My Government will reduce the tax burden on working people.

And taxpayers across the country will benefit from businesses built in Britain.

Through Labour’s National Wealth Fund, we will give you a stake in homegrown projects from green steel to renewable ready ports. pic.twitter.com/OJcOiEKB1U
— Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) September 26, 2022

He also insisted that Scotland would deliver the seats needed to get Labour “over the line”, with Starmer elected as Prime Minister.

Starmer suggests that the SNP are “not interested” in making Scotland a success within the UK.

“Labour will deliver change. You will never get that from the Tories and you won’t get it from the SNP either,” the Labour leader will say in his speech.

“The challenges we face – the cost of living crisis, climate change, standing up to Putin, are common across our four nations.

“We saw off the threat of fascism and deadly disease together. We built the NHS and the welfare state together.

“But I don’t believe in our union just because of our history. I believe in it because of our future.”

Tory trickle-down economics is failing.

Labour will work with business to get our economy back on track, and deliver a fairer, greener future for all. #Lab22 pic.twitter.com/QWPdw7vPPQ
— Anas Sarwar (@AnasSarwar) September 26, 2022

Starmer will tell conference that Scotland needs a Labour government that can “deliver change”, as well as the power and resources it needs.

“I know we can meet the great challenges to come, build new beacons of fairness that light up the islands we share,” he will say.

“Scotland needs a Labour government that can deliver change, but it also needs the power and resources to shape its own future whoever’s in power in Westminster.

“And the SNP are not interested in this. For them, Scotland’s success in the UK is met with gritted teeth, seen as a roadblock to independence and so they stand in the way.

“We can’t work with them, we won’t work with them. No deal under any circumstances.

“A fairer, greener, more dynamic Scotland in a fairer, greener, more dynamic Labour Britain.”

SNP depute leader Keith Brown criticised Starmer and Sarwar.

“We expect Starmer’s speech (on Tuesday) will offer absolutely nothing new of substance to Scotland,” he said.

“As did Anas Sarwar, whose conference address made clear he prioritises grubby council coalitions with the Tories above progressive alliances to improve the lives of ordinary Scots.”