Conservative Parliamentary Candidate for Chelsea and Fulham, Greg Hands, has warned that Britain could be faced with a “Frankenstein Coalition” of Labour and the SNP, if Labour gain enough seats in England to govern with the SNP.
On the 20th April the SNP launched their manifesto in which Scottish First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, made a bid to 'lead the UK' with string of policies that overlap with Labour, making the prospect some kind of post-election deal between the two parties more likely than ever.
All the polls predict that at the upcoming election, Labour are going to be crushed in Scotland by the SNP. However if Labour were to win enough seats in England, Ed Miliband would need to do a deal with them to get into Downing Street. A deal between Ed Miliband and the SNP would cause chaos in England and throughout the UK – with millions of families paying through higher taxes, more debt and fewer jobs.
This week Sturgeon elaborated further on her plans to manipulate Ed Miliband commenting on the campaign trail “What I am saying is that a vote-by-vote arrangement is both more likely and probably the way in which a big team of SNP MPs can wield maximum influence for Scotland’s benefit. I want a big team of SNP MPs in Westminster there first and foremost to make Scotland’s interests heard.”
Vote-by-vote bartering between Ed Miliband and the SNP would create a weak and unstable government and jeopardise Britain’s economic recovery. Ed Miliband would be left wide open to a daily dose of political blackmail, with the SNP able to withdraw support and bring down his government almost at any moment.
Commenting after the SNP’s manifesto launch, Conservative Parliamentary Candidate for Chelsea and Fulham, Greg Hands, said: “The SNP’s manifesto is a ransom note to Ed Miliband. He could only govern with their support – and the SNP have now listed what he must do to get it: higher borrowing, higher taxes, higher welfare bills and weaker defences.
“With an SNP-led Miliband Government, working people in London and across England would pay the price in more taxes and more borrowing to pay for more welfare. You will pay for it – but you can stop it: vote Conservative on 7 May.”
The easiest way to prevent an SNP-Labour power sharing deal is if the Conservatives win an overall majority, requiring just 23 more seats than won in 2010.
Speaking at the Manifesto launch, Sturgeon also confirmed that the SNP would support Labour’s so-called mansion tax. Greg Hands responded “All the analysis shows this tax on £2millon properties would not just hit mansions but ordinary homes. Chelsea and Fulham could be one of the worst affected areas by such a tax.
“I and the Conservatives oppose this Homes Tax, however unless the we get enough seats here in England, it may be that the SNP help Labour to impose this damaging, unfair, and unaffordable tax on family homes in London.”
In a television debate last week, Ed Miliband refused to rule out any power sharing deal with the SNP and speaking on the radio, his shadow Scottish Minister, Margaret Curran, held open the door to a “looser arrangement”.
In response to the TV debate, Greg Hands tweeted “That was a 90 minute trailer for a 5 year programme of chaos under Ed Miliband & his Frankenstein coalition. Don't let it happen #BBCDebate” The tweet received 210 re-tweets.
Greg also shared some of his insights from inside the Government Whips Office of occasions dealing with SNP colleagues, this week tweeting: “As the incumbent Govt Deputy Chief Whip, I can tell you it would be a nightmare to have to go on hands& knees to the SNP before every vote.”