Labour rules out secret deal with the SNP to oust Boris amid snap election frenzy

LABOUR has ruled out an alliance with the SNP to oust Boris Johnson if a general election is called.

Andrew Gwynne, Labour’s elections coordinator, said the party would rule as a minority government if it couldn’t win a snap poll.

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Shadow chancellor John McDonell's suggestion that the party would not stop a second independence referendum in Scotland fuelled speculation that Labour could form a pact with the SNP.

But speaking to the , Mr Gwynne said no such deal would be made.

The Denton and Reddish MP also said the new Prime Minister is a “charlatan” who is papering over the cracks of a no-deal Brexit with his “bravado and bluster”.

MINORITY GOVERNMENT

He said: “I think that what we should say as we would govern as a Labour government.

“We would aim for a majority Labour government but the reality is that apart from two years where David Cameron managed to secure a very small majority, since 2010 all the governments have been formed in hung parliaments.

“We will aim to win a majority Labour government but if we don’t, we will govern in a minority.

“If the SNP want to prop up a Tory government under Boris Johnson, on their own heads be it. I don’t think Scotland will forgive them for that.”

We will aim to win a majority Labour government but if we don’t, we will govern in a minority

Andrew Gwynne

He added: “We’ve really got to show Boris Johnson as the charlatan that he is.

“For all his bravado and bluster, it’s the communities that the Labour Party seeks to represent that will be damaged the most [by a no-deal Brexit].”

It is thought Jeremy Corbyn to bring a confidence vote against Boris Johnson in September.

And Downing Street has suggested the new PM could call an election near the Brexit deadline on October 31.

Earlier this week Mr McDonnell – Corbyn’s right hand man - said it would for the SNP-dominated Scottish Parliament “to decide” whether to hold another vote north of the border.

2ND REFERENDUM

But his words risked sparking a bitter war with Scottish Labour, which is strongly against another independence referendum.

He said: “It will be for the Scottish Parliament and the Scottish people to decide that.

“We would not block something like that. We would let the Scottish people decide.

“They will take a view about whether they want another referendum. Nicola Sturgeon said by late next year or the beginning of 2021.”

He added: “We would not block something like that. We would let the Scottish people decide. That’s democracy.

“There are other views within the party but that’s our view.”

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It comes after reports suggested up to 60 Labour MPs are ready to support a national unity government even if it is led by a Conservative Prime Minister.

But the group of 60 may still not be enough to topple Mr Johnson, reports The Sunday Mirror.

One shadow minister told the paper: “It would only be enough if you get the SNP on board. And they are unlikely to do anything to prop up any British government.”