BBC NEWS | UK | Scotland | SNP begins coalition discussions

<!doctype html public "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/loose.dtd"> <html> <head> <title>BBC NEWS | UK | Scotland | SNP begins coalition discussions</title> <meta name="contentFlavor" content="STORY" /> <meta name="keywords" content="BBC, News, BBC News, news online, world, uk, international, foreign, british, online, service" /> <meta name="OriginalPublicationDate" content="2007/05/05 16:41:30" /> <meta name="UKFS_URL" content="/1/hi/scotland/6627589.stm" /> <meta name="IFS_URL" content="/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/6627589.stm" /> <meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> <link href="http://newsrss.bbc.co.uk/rss/newsonline_world_edition/uk_news/scotland/rss.xml" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml" title="BBC NEWS | UK | Scotland" /> <link href="/2/low/uk_news/scotland/6627589.stm" rel="alternate" type="text/html" title="Low Graphics" /> <meta name="Headline" content="SNP begins coalition discussions" /> <meta 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src="http://stats.bbc.co.uk/o.gif?~RS~s~RS~News~RS~t~RS~HighWeb_Story~RS~i~RS~6627589~RS~p~RS~44013~RS~a~RS~International~RS~u~RS~/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/6627589.stm~RS~r~RS~(none)~RS~q~RS~~RS~z~RS~14~RS~"/></td> <td width="10"><img src="http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/shared/img/o.gif" width="10" height="1" alt="" border="0" vspace="0" hspace="0"></td> <td width="629" valign="top"> <table width="629" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tr> <td valign="top" width="629"> <a name="startcontent"></a><span class="ds"><span class="lu">Last Updated: </span>Saturday, 5 May 2007, 16:41 GMT 17:41 UK</span> <img src="http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/shared/img/o.gif" width="2" height="2" alt="" border="0" vspace="0" hspace="0"> <div class="mvb"><img src="http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/nol/shared/img/v3/dot_629.gif" width="629" height="1" alt="" border="0" vspace="0" hspace="0"></div> <div class="mvtb"><table cellspacing="0" width="416" border="0" cellpadding="0"><tr> <td width="213"><a class="epl" onClick="popUpPage('http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/mpapps/pagetools/email/news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/6627589.stm','status=no,scrollbars=yes,resizable=yes,width=370,height=445','Mailer')" href="http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/mpapps/pagetools/email/news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/6627589.stm" target="Mailer"> <img src="http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/nol/shared/img/v3/email.gif" align="left" width="17" height="11" alt="" border="0" vspace="0" hspace="3"> E-mail this to a friend </a></td> <td width="203"><a class="epl" onClick="popUpPage('http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/mpapps/pagetools/print/news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/6627589.stm','status=no,scrollbars=yes,toolbar=yes,resizable=yes,menubar=yes,width=600,height=445','Printer')" href="http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/mpapps/pagetools/print/news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/6627589.stm" target="Printer"> <img src="http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/nol/shared/img/v3/print.gif" align="left" width="17" height="11" alt="" border="0" vspace="0" hspace="3"> Printable version </a></td> </tr></table></div> </td> </tr> </table> <table width="629" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tr> <td colspan="3"> <div class="mxb"> <div class="sh"> SNP begins coalition discussions </div> </div> </td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="416"> <font size="2">   <table border="0" cellspacing="0" align="right" width="203" cellpadding="0"> <tr><td> <div> <img src="http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/42891000/jpg/_42891411_snpparly203pa.jpg" width="203" height="152" alt="Nicola Sturgeon and Alex Salmond" border="0" vspace="0" hspace="0"> <div class="cap">Alex Salmond said formal negotiations had still to take place</div> </div> </td></tr> </table>   <B>The SNP has begun informal coalition talks after the party became the largest in the Scottish Parliament.</B> <P> The election gave the Nationalists a total of 47 seats, beating Scottish Labour by just one seat. <P> Meanwhile, Labour extended a hand to other parties, but said it would not rush into making a judgement on forming the next Holyrood government. <P> Scottish Liberal Democrats and the Greens are considering whether or not to enter into discussions with the SNP.  <P> The three parties would have a combined total of 65 seats - just enough to form a majority at Holyrood. <P> The Greens, who have at this stage ruled nothing in or out, would support the SNP's policy of a referendum on independence, but such a move would be opposed by the Lib Dems. <P>  <table cellspacing="0" align="right" width="208" border="0" cellpadding="0"> <tr> <td width="5"><img src="http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/shared/img/o.gif" width="5" height="1" alt="" border="0" vspace="0" hspace="0"></td> <td class="sibtbg"> <div> <div class="mva"> <img src="http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/nol/shared/img/v3/start_quote_rb.gif" width="24" height="13" alt="" border="0"> <b>Scottish Labour stands ready to work with others who want to make devolution work</b> <img src="http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/nol/shared/img/v3/end_quote_rb.gif" align="right" width="23" height="13" alt="" border="0" vspace="0"><br clear="all"/> </div> </div> <div class="mva"> <div>Scottish Labour statement</div> </div> </td> </tr> </table>  <P> BBC Scotland's political editor Brian Taylor said the Liberals seemed to be feeling disinclined to do a deal of any sort after a "relatively bruising" experience at the polls. <P> Senior sources said the party may prefer to concentrate for now on rebuilding their own prospects outside government. <P> SNP leader Alex Salmond said his party had begun exploratory coalition talks. <P> "We've had conversations informally, but there's been no formal negotiations as yet," he said. <P> "During the election we expressed a preference for a coalition and that's certainly my preference." <P> In a statement agreed by Labour MSPs at a meeting in Glasgow, the party recognised the SNP's victory, but also claimed there was a large majority against Scottish independence. <P> "Scottish Labour stands ready to work with others who want to make devolution work," said the statement. <P> "We recognise our responsibilities to the people of Scotland and to those who voted Labour on Thursday. This election result demonstrates that the people of Scotland do not want separation to be Scotland's national priority." <P>  <table border="0" cellspacing="0" align="right" width="203" cellpadding="0"> <tr><td> <div> <img src="http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/42882000/jpg/_42882335_holyroodflagpacred203.jpg" width="203" height="152" alt="Flag at Holyrood" border="0" vspace="0" hspace="0"> <div class="cap">A first minister has to be appointed within 28 days of the election</div> </div> </td></tr> </table>  <P> The statement went on to say: "Given the divided parliament and the uncertainty created, Scottish Labour recognises it would be wrong to make an immediate judgement about our stance on the next steps towards the formation of the next Scottish government." <P> The election left the Tories with 17 seats and the Lib Dems with 16. <P> There are two Green MSPs and one independent, Lothians list MSP Margo MacDonald. <P> Under the Scotland Act, a new first minister has to be appointed within 28 days of the election. <P> Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Nicol Stephen said that there was no way his party would support a referendum on independence. <P> "In terms of a potential coalition relationship with the Liberal Democrats, we've been very clear about this. <P> "We don't support independence. We don't support a referendum on independence. We support more powers for the Scottish parliament." <P> The Electoral Commission has launched an inquiry after the election was marred by technical problems, delays and a high level of spoiled ballot papers. <P> Trade and Industry Secretary Alistair Darling told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that he had concerns about the complexity of the voting system when he was Scottish secretary. </font> <br /><br clear="all" /> <div class="mvtb"><table cellspacing="0" width="416" border="0" cellpadding="0"><tr> <td width="213"><a class="epl" onClick="popUpPage('http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/mpapps/pagetools/email/news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/6627589.stm','status=no,scrollbars=yes,resizable=yes,width=370,height=445','Mailer')" href="http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/mpapps/pagetools/email/news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/6627589.stm" target="Mailer"> <img src="http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/nol/shared/img/v3/email.gif" align="left" width="17" height="11" alt="" border="0" vspace="0" hspace="3"> E-mail this to a friend </a></td> <td width="203"><a class="epl" onClick="popUpPage('http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/mpapps/pagetools/print/news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/6627589.stm','status=no,scrollbars=yes,toolbar=yes,resizable=yes,menubar=yes,width=600,height=445','Printer')" href="http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/mpapps/pagetools/print/news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/6627589.stm" target="Printer"> <img src="http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/nol/shared/img/v3/print.gif" align="left" width="17" height="11" alt="" border="0" vspace="0" hspace="3"> Printable version </a></td> </tr></table></div> <div class="mvtb"> </div><br /> </td> <td width="10" valign="top"><img src="http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/shared/img/o.gif" width="10" height="1" alt="" border="0" vspace="0" hspace="0"></td> <td width="203" valign="top"> <div class="av1h"> VIDEO AND AUDIO NEWS </div> <a onClick="javascript:newsi.utils.av.launch({storyId:6628353, fileLoc: '/player/nol/newsid_6620000/newsid_6628300/', nbram: 1,nbwm: 1,bbwm: 1,bbram: 1});return false;" href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediaselector/check/player/nol/newsid_6620000/newsid_6628300?redirect=6628353.stm&news=1&nbram=1&nbwm=1&bbwm=1&bbram=1"> <b> The challenge of Scottish coalition talks </b> <br clear="all" /> <img src="http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/nol/shared/img/v3/icons/video_text.gif" width="57" height="13" alt="" border="0" vspace="5" hspace="0"> </a> <br /><img src="http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/nol/shared/img/v3/line_av.gif" width="203" height="2" alt="" border="0" vspace="2"><br /> <img src="http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/shared/img/o.gif" width="1" height="10" alt=""><br /> <div class="puffbox"> <div class="o"> <div class="nlp"> <a class="lp" href="/2/hi/uk_news/politics/scotland/default.stm">SCOTTISH POLITICS</a> </div> <img src="http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/shared/img/o.gif" width="1" height="5" alt="" border="0" vspace="0" class="" hspace="0"><br /> <div class="nlp"> ALEX SALMOND FIRST MINISTER </div> <div class="arr"> <a href="/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/6659531.stm"> Salmond elected as first minister </a> </div> <div class="arr"> <a href="/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/6663031.stm"> New cabinet team announced </a> </div> <div class="arr"> <a href="/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/6661885.stm"> Victory speech in full </a> </div> <div class="arr"> <a href="/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/6661673.stm"> In quotes: Reaction to Salmond </a> </div> <div class="arr"> <a href="/2/hi/in_pictures/6662031.stm"> In Pictures: First minister </a> </div> <div class="arr"> <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/briantaylor/2007/08/14/index.html"> Blog: Blether with Brian </a> </div> <div class="arr"> <a href="/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/6603445.stm"> Grasping the leadership thistle </a> </div> <div class="arr"> <a href="/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/6657807.stm"> Q&A: First minister </a> </div> <div class="nlp"> NEW HOLYROOD </div> <div class="arr"> <a href="/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/6640229.stm"> Tough talkers to oversee business </a> </div> <div class="arr"> <a href="/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/6637097.stm"> New MSPs sworn in at Holyrood </a> </div> <div class="arr"> <a href="/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/6637387.stm"> Rejected votes more than thought </a> </div> <div class="arr"> <a href="/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/6631965.stm"> SNP power share talks 'positive' </a> </div> <div class="arr"> <a href="/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/6629775.stm"> Lib Dems will not do Labour deal </a> </div> <div class="arr"> <a href="/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/6629093.stm"> Vote may face challenges </a> </div> <div class="arr"> <a href="/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/6627589.stm"> SNP begins coalition discussions </a> </div> <div class="arr"> <a href="/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/6628657.stm"> Election group criticises ballots </a> </div> <div class="arr"> <a href="/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/6627657.stm"> Grandfather 'SNP election hero' </a> </div> <img src="http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/shared/img/cccccc.gif" width="203" height="1" alt="" border="0" vspace="3" class="" hspace="0"><br /> <div class="nlp"> ANALYSIS </div> <div class="arr"> <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/election07/scotland/"> Election blog: Brian Taylor </a> </div> <div class="arr"> <a href="/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/6628537.stm"> No concrete clues to the future </a> </div> <div class="arr"> <a href="/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/6628279.stm"> Crunching the numbers for power </a> </div> <div class="arr"> <a href="/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/6624215.stm"> Analysis: Council results </a> </div> <div class="arr"> <a href="/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/6622335.stm"> Timeline: How it unfolded </a> </div> <img src="http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/shared/img/cccccc.gif" width="203" height="1" alt="" border="0" vspace="3" class="" hspace="0"><br /> <div class="nlp"> YOUR VIEWS </div> <div class="arr"> <a href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?threadID=6263&edition=2"> Electoral system in disrepute? </a> </div> <img src="http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/shared/img/cccccc.gif" width="203" height="1" alt="" border="0" vspace="3" class="" hspace="0"><br /> <div class="nlp"> RESULTS SERVICE </div> <span style="color:#666666;font-size:11px;">Enter a full postcode to choose your seat</span> <form action="http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/cgi-bin/epocos/epocos4.pl" method="GET"> <input type="text" name="postcode" id="loc" /> <input type="image" value="go" src="http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/nol/shared/img/nav/v3_bbci/go_button.gif" border="0" alt="Go" align="top" /> </form>  <img src="http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/shared/img/cccccc.gif" width="203" height="1" alt="" border="0" vspace="3" class="" hspace="0"><br /> <div class="nlp"> AUDIO/VIDEO </div> <div class="miitb"> <a onClick="javascript:newsi.utils.av.launch({storyId:6663097, fileLoc: '/player/nol/newsid_6660000/newsid_6663000/', nbwm: 1,bbwm: 1,bbram: 1,nbram: 1});return false;" href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediaselector/check/player/nol/newsid_6660000/newsid_6663000?redirect=6663097.stm&news=1&nbwm=1&bbwm=1&bbram=1&nbram=1"> <img src="http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/nol/shared/img/v3/icons/video_text.gif" align="left" width="57" height="13" alt="watch" border="0" vspace="0" hspace="0"> SNP: Protest to power </a> <br clear="all" /> </div> <div class="miitb"> <a onClick="javascript:newsi.utils.av.launch({storyId:6627283, fileLoc: '/player/nol/newsid_6620000/newsid_6627200/', bbwm: 1,nbwm: 1,bbram: 1,nbram: 1});return false;" href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediaselector/check/player/nol/newsid_6620000/newsid_6627200?redirect=6627283.stm&news=1&bbwm=1&nbwm=1&bbram=1&nbram=1"> <img src="http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/nol/shared/img/v3/icons/video_text.gif" align="left" width="57" height="13" alt="watch" border="0" vspace="0" hspace="0"> Salmond's background </a> <br clear="all" /> </div> <img src="http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/shared/img/cccccc.gif" width="203" height="1" alt="" border="0" vspace="3" class="" hspace="0"><br /> <div class="nlp"> COUNCIL RESULTS </div> <div class="arr"> <a href="/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/6623605.stm"> Labour hit by council seat losses </a> </div> <div class="arr"> <a href="/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/south_of_scotland/6623149.stm"> Independents suffer heavy losses </a> </div> <img src="http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/shared/img/cccccc.gif" width="203" height="1" alt="" border="0" vspace="3" class="" hspace="0"><br /> <div class="nlp"> PARTY WEBSITES </div> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><form method="post" action="http://www.bbc.co.uk/cgi-bin/openurl.pl"><tr><td> <select name="link" class="formatStyle" onchange="if (this.options[selectedIndex].value != '') location.href=this.options[selectedIndex].value"> <option value="#"> Choose party </option> <option value="http://www.buildingscotland.org/"> Labour </option> <option value="http://www.snp.org/"> SNP </option> <option value="http://www.scottishconservatives.com/"> Tories </option> <option value="http://www.scotlibdems.org.uk/"> Lib Dems </option> <option value="http://www.scottishgreens.org.uk/"> Greens </option> <option value="http://www.scottishsocialistparty.org/"> SSP </option> <option value="http://www.solidarityscotland.org/"> Solidarity </option> <option value="http://www.sscup.org/"> SSCUP </option> <option value="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/6581431.stm"> Others </option> </select> <input value="GO" type="image" border="0" src="http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/nol/shared/img/v3/go_button.gif"> </td></tr></form></table> <img src="http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/shared/img/cccccc.gif" width="203" height="2" alt="" border="0" vspace="3" class="" hspace="0"><br /> </div> <img src="http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/shared/img/o.gif" width="1" height="10" alt=""><br /></div> <div class="topStoryH"> <a class="lp" href="/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/default.stm">TOP SCOTLAND STORIES</a> </div> <div class="arr"> <a href="/news/10629843">Scots unemployment rate increases</a> <br /> </div> <div class="arr"> <a href="/news/10626020">Police name three road crash dead</a> <br /> </div> <div class="arr"> <a href="/news/10631843">Man tried to kill disabled wife</a> <br /> </div> <script 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BBC NEWS | UK | Scotland | SNP begins coalition discussions