JEREMY Corbyn was last night accused of striking “a shady backroom deal” over Scottish independence in exchange for power.
As campaigning got under way yesterday, the Labour leader admitted he could grant a referendum if he was to win the General Election.
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But his revelation showed he was prepared to tear the UK apart to get his hands on the keys to No10, according to Downing Street.
It believes he is giving the nod to the SNP that they will get their independence vote if they back him as PM if the election is tight.
A Tory party spokesman said: “He has done a shady backroom deal with Nicola Sturgeon for a referendum in Scotland, something which I don’t think much of his party is particularly happy with but it is a position which Jeremy Corbyn has stated very clearly.”
SNP leader and First Minister Ms Sturgeon has said she will ask the next PM to give the green light to another referendum before the year is out.
On a visit to a hospital in Crawley, West Sussex, Mr Corbyn admitted he could grant her wish.
He said: “At a later stage, obviously under the terms of devolution, if the Scottish Parliament demands it, then there could be, at a much later stage, a referendum.”
‘SHADY BACKROOM DEAL’
But he insisted that he did not plan to hold one straight away and did not support independence. Mr Corbyn also denied he would make any pacts with other parties to get into power.
Hours earlier, Shadow Transport Secretary Andy McDonald said Labour “will not stand in the way” of another vote.
Tory Scottish Secretary Alister Jack said: “The election has barely begun and Jeremy Corbyn is already flirting with the SNP — bowing to their attempts to break up Britain in exchange for their support.
“Labour only offer the British people more of the arguing, delay and indecision that has plagued the last three years. Two further referendums on Brexit and Scottish independence will do nothing to bring Britain back together.”
As she also hit the campaign trail, Ms Sturgeon said: “It’s the most important election Scotland has had for decades, it will determine the future direction of our country for a long time to come.”
Meanwhile, Remainers began plotting to convince voters to think tactically in an all-out drive to boot Boris Johnson out of No10.
The Brexit-bashing Best for Britain group launched a website telling Remain supporters who to back to stop Tory MPs from winning.
Its analysis suggests Mr Johnson will storm to a 44-seat majority without tactical voting.
But, if just 30 per cent of Remain backers switch allegiance, it will swing the election and could hand Remainer parties a majority, it reveals.
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