LABOUR must agree to hand control of referenda to Holyrood – or risk losing SNP support for a minority government in Westminster, Ian Blackford has suggested.
In a televised interview, the SNP's Westminster leader hinted that opposition parties and Tory rebels will unite this week to put further pressure on Boris Johnson over Brexit.
Refusing to reveal details of behind-the-scenes planning, Blackford said his side had "gamed out" possible scenarios for preventing a No-Deal Brexit, and said a united effort by other parties would be impossible for Johnson's minority government to resist.
This may include a vote of no-confidence in the Tory administration, triggering a snap general election that, according to experts, may lead to a hung parliament.
Appearing on the BBC's Sunday Politics Scotland, Blackford ruled out a formal coalition with Jeremy Corbyn's party.
And he suggested that any deal would hinge on Corbyn agreeing to give the Scottish Parliament the Section 30 order it needs to call a future independence referendum.
Last month Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard restated opposition to indyref2.
But Corbyn has not ruled out approving a Section 30 order if the circumstances arise, saying he would decide on this "at the time".
Any future vote on the constitution must comply with domestic law if it is to be recognised by the European Union – something necessary for a post-Brexit independent Scotland to regain membership of the bloc.
Blackford said Corbyn must "respect democracy", stating: "We have that mandate there.
"If the people in a Westminster election reinforce that by voting for the SNP, he has to respect that it should be the Scottish Parliament that determines when a referendum is called, not a government in Westminster."
The Ross, Skye and Lochaber went on: "Everything that was seen going on at Westminster demonstrates that the people of Scotland have got to have the right to determine their own future.
"That means that we have to have that Section 30 sitting in the hands of the Scottish Parliament."
Blackford said any agreement with Labour would be made on a "progressive basis".
However, Scottish Labour has said it will not make "deals, pacts or coalition agreements with any party".
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