Speculation of a hung Parliament reached fever pitch last week after the Conservatives were only 2% ahead in the latest Sunday Times Opinion poll (although the gap is back to around 5- 6 points) so it’s no real surprise that talks between the Scottish and Welsh Nationalists are underway to draw up a list of demands for support any minority Government whether Conservative or Labour.
Both Unionist and Nationalists parties in Northern Ireland have been contacted by the SNP to start negotiations and it may not seem as strange as it sounds, Alex Salmond got on well the Ian Paisley and current DUP First Minister Peter Robinson.
I still reckon that it will be Lib Dems who the big two parties will turn to first in such circumstances for the simple that reason electoral reform is more palatable than an independence referendum, but if the Tories or Labour only need a handful of votes then the smaller parties will come into their own.
According to the new online Scottish newspaper the Caledonian Mercury this is what demands are being discussed (for Plaid Cymru read Wales for Scotland in the following)
Securing millions in extra funding in areas which the parties should be covered by the Barnett Formula, but which are not, likely spending increases as a result of the London Olympics and money for English prisons.
No major cuts to the block grants for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Transferring new powers to Holyrood over airguns, drink-driving and speeding limits, areas which could be devolved without any major revisions to the Scotland Act.
A commitment to enhanced powers for the Scottish Parliament in the next Westminster parliamentary session.
The prospect of smaller parties pressurising the government of the day into concessions would not be new to Westminster but an organised Celtic block, including the Northern Irish nationalists and unionists, would be.
Any source
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