Saturday 2 July 2022 03:51 PM Keir Starmer forced to 'rule out deal with SNP' as PM revives Tory warnings of ... trends now

Sir Keir Starmer is being forced to rule out ever doing a deal with the SNP after Boris Johnson revived Tory warnings of a 'coalition of chaos' governing the UK.

The Labour leader is set to pledge he would rather go into minority government after the next general election than strike an agreement with Nicola Sturgeon's party.

Expectations that Sir Keir will soon come forward with a guarantee not to join forces with Scottish nationalists - as a means of entering Number 10 - is a sign he has been left rattled by the ramping up of Conservative attacks.

New analysis published today has shown how, based on current opinion polling, Labour are on course to be the largest party after the next general election.

But Sir Keir is set to be short of an overall majority in the House of Commons.

This means he would have to either have to try and form a minority government, or rely on the support of other parties.

Conservatives have frequently warned that the price of a Labour-SNP deal would be a second Scottish independence referendum.

Ahead of the 2015 general election, former prime minister David Cameron notably warned of the 'chaos' of a Labour administration being 'held to ransom by the SNP'.

This was repeated by the Conservative Party to varying degrees at subsequent general elections in 2017 and 2019. 

Mr Johnson has now revived the Tory attack line by outlining the 'pretty stark' choice for voters between a Conservative government or 'Labour propped up by the SNP'.

Former health secretary Matt Hancock, who is viewed to be eyeing a return to the Cabinet, also recently warned the 'only viable alternative to a Conservative government is a coalition between Sir Keir and Nicola Sturgeon’s separatist SNP'.

The Tory warnings about the potential outcome of the next general election have been given greater weight by Ms Sturgeon this week setting 19th October next year as the date for a second Scottish independence referendum.

This is despite Mr Johnson having shown no sign that he will grant her Scottish Government the legal power to hold another vote on ripping up the United Kingdom.