Labour and Tory Election Pact

With the Scottish Parliament election campaign hotting up for 2007 it looks as if Labour and the Conservatives may have shot themselves in the foot already. Annabel Goldie, leader of the Conservatives in Scotland has pledged that her party will prop up a minority Labour Government.

This would be a coalition in all but name. Even Brian Montieth, who was a Tory MSP until very recently has conceded that the only choice for the electorate at this election is between the status quo and the Scottish National Party.

This must be the first time we have seen such obvious polarisation along Unionist Vs Nationalist lines. The Labour Party have welcomed this pledge from the Conservatives so the choice at the elections comes down to either vote SNP or don't get any change. Given how low Jack McConnell's approval ratings are, this could amount to political suicide.

It's true that oppositions have a habit of becoming governments but the reality seems to have hit home for the Unionist parties and that is that the SNP only need to win once. Maybe this pact has actually brought it closer to happening.