Sturgeon Vows To End Austerity Across UK

Nicola Sturgeon has vowed to carry an anti-austerity message to Westminster after the SNP gained a record 56 seats in the Commons.

The SNP leader addressed her new MPs in Edinburgh and told them to "work with others" in Parliament to end austerity across the United Kingdom.

"Let us be very clear - the people of Scotland voted for an SNP manifesto that had ending austerity as its number one priority and that is the priority for these men and women to now take to the very heart of the Westminster agenda," she said.

"We will continue to reach out to people of progressive opinion right across the UK so that we can put ending austerity, investing in public services like our precious NHS, investing in a stronger economy to get more young people in jobs… We will work with others to put those priorities right at the heart of Westminster."

Voters granted the Conservatives a surprise majority on Thursday, but in taking all but three of Scotland's 59 seats, the SNP ensured they will be hard to ignore in the new-look House of Commons.

Ms Sturgeon had a brief conversation with the Prime Minister on Friday, agreeing to face-to-face talks "as soon as possible" - an early indication of the First Minister's likely influence over the next five years.

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She told her audience in front of the Forth Bridge: "As I told the Prime Minister when I spoke to him yesterday, it simply cannot and will not be business as usual when it comes to Westminster's dealings with Scotland.

"Scotland this week spoke more clearly than ever before and my message to Westminster is that Scotland's voice will be heard there more loudly than it has ever been before.

"Our job is to repay the trust you have shown in us and I pledge today that that's exactly what we'll do.

"We will not let you down."

While a left-of-centre alliance would not be able to outvote a united Tory party in the Commons, the situation may change if Conservative backbenchers become restless.

Ms Sturgeon's predecessor and the new MP for Gordon, Alex Salmond, has predicted the Tory majority will "erode and change within months" .