SNP would work constructively with Labour government – Forbes

Rebecca McCurdy, PA Scotland Political Reporter
·2-min read

Scotland’s Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes has said her party would look to “work constructively” with a Labour government at Westminster.

Her comments come after Labour’s shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves pledged to take a “partnership approach” with the opposition party.

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar also said on Tuesday that Labour would not “pick fights” with the SNP if it wins the General Election.

Asked about the comments on Wednesday during a visit to Maisie Gray Pottery and Crafts in Linlithgow, West Lothian, Ms Forbes said: “The Scottish Government will always seek to work constructively with a UK Government.”

However, she said the first TV debate, hosted by ITV, between Labour’s Sir Keir Starmer and Conservative Prime Minister Rishi Sunak showed Scotland was “forgotten” after both leaders failed to mention the country once.

She said: “What we saw from the debate last night is that whether it is Rachel Reeves, or Keir Starmer, or Rishi Sunak, they come to Scotland and make a lot of positive comments about Scotland.

“But, in the first debate, they don’t mention Scotland once.

General Election campaign 2024
Rachel Reeves said Labour would seek a ‘partnership approach’ with the Scottish Government (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

“That tells you everything you need to know about the next government – whether it is Tory or Labour – and we need SNP MPs there to make the case for Scotland and make sure the leader does not forget about Scotland.”

Speaking during a campaign event at the Royal Bank of Scotland complex at Gogarburn in Edinburgh on Tuesday, Ms Reeves said: “We want a partnership approach.

“We’re only going to realise the potential of the whole UK economy if people in all parts of the UK, every nation and region, are given the opportunity to participate and play their part.

“So, we would work with the (Scottish) Government here and hope in the future that a Labour government in Westminster would be able to work with a Labour government here in Scotland.”

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