SNP Pledges 'Real Change' Across UK

Nicola Sturgeon launched the SNP election manifesto with a pledge that her party would not only fight to "make Scotland stronger'' but would also use its influence to bring about "real and positive change'' for ordinary people across the UK. The Scottish First Minister said her party's representatives at Westminster would seek to "make common cause and build alliances with others of like mind'' in an attempt to end austerity and herald a real change in politics. Support for the SNP has been on the up, despite the vote against independence last year, with polls suggesting there could be a record number of Scottish nationalists at Westminster. With the election apparently on track for another hung parliament, that could see Ms Sturgeon and her party holding the balance of power across the UK. Today, as she unveiled the SNP's manifesto at the Edinburgh International Climbing Arena, she told voters north of the border that backing her party on May 7 would make Scotland's "voice heard more loudly than it has ever been heard before at Westminster''. But she also had a message for voters in the rest of the UK, seeking to reassure them about the impact a large group of nationalist MPs could have. The SNP leader said: "I also want to make a pledge today to people in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. "Even though you can't vote SNP, your views do matter to me. And you have a right to know what to expect of my party if the votes of the Scottish people give us influence in a hung parliament. "So my promise to you is this: If the SNP emerges from this election in a position of influence, we will exercise that influence responsibly and constructively. "And we will exercise it in the interests of people, not just in Scotland, but across the UK.'' Ms Sturgeon continued: "For as long as Scotland remains part of the Westminster system, we have a shared interest with you in making that system work better for all of us - for the many, not the few. "We will not do any deals that would put the Tories into power - indeed, if there is an anti-Tory majority after May , we will vote to stop a new Tory government even getting off the ground. "But we will then seek to use our influence to make a Labour government bolder and better. "We will seek to make common cause and build alliances with others of like mind across the UK to deliver the progressive change that so many want to see.'' She added: "To everyone who, like me, wants this election to herald the real and positive change that will make life better for ordinary people across these islands, I hold out a hand of friendship.'' As Ms Sturgeon unveiled her party's manifesto, Prime Minister David Cameron warned that a Labour administration propped up by the SNP would be a "match made in hell for the British economy''. Mr Cameron claimed: "With Labour and the SNP, our economy will head into ruin again. And who will pay? You will pay - in higher taxes.'' But the First Minister said the Tory leader's comments were "born out of panic and desperation'', claiming that Mr Cameron was "making a huge tactical and strategic mistake'' in his campaign. "My experience is people across the rest of the UK are as hungry and restless for progressive change as people in Scotland are,'' she said. "I think we can play a positive part in helping to bring about that change.'' The SNP manifesto makes the case for "modest'' increases in public spending, resulting in "at least £140 billion extra investment'' across the UK. This would see an additional £9.5 billion above the rate of inflation for the NHS by 2020/21, a total increase of £24 billion. SNP MPs would back an increase in the minimum wage, wanting this to rise to £8.70 an hour by 2020, and would also vote in favour of the reintroduction of the 50p rate of income tax for top earners, as well as mansion tax and a bankers' bonus tax. While the tax changes are similar to those set out by Labour, one key difference between the two parties remains over the issue of Trident.

The Nationalists are opposed to the UK having nuclear weapons, with Ms Sturgeon arguing that not renewing Trident is "a very, very real way in which we can free up resources to spend on giving our children a better future''. Overall, she said the SNP manifesto was "fiscally responsible'' but added that it also said: "We need to reduce the deficit in a way that does not tear up the fabric of our society.'' Ms Sturgeon insisted: "The SNP is not going into this election seeking the election of SNP MPs in order that we can go to Westminster to be in any way destructive or disruptive. The SNP is not going to Westminster to seek to bring down governments or block budgets. We are going to Westminster to build alliances for good, positive, sensible, progressive change. We will do that constructively, looking to make common cause with people of like mind. "We will seek to build those alliances for change. "The more SNP MPs we get elected on May 7, the more influence we will have and the more able we will be to make that change.'' She told voters: "If you want Scotland's voice to be heard, if you want a Labour government's budget to be better, if you want a Labour government not to be Tory-lite but to be bold and better and progressive, then vote SNP to make sure all of these things can happen. "This isn't about one politician being in the pocket of another politician, or vice-versa. I actually think it is about something better and more positive than that, I think it is about different politicians listening to what the voters say and coming together to work together to deliver that change that voters want. "That's what I'm determined to do.''