Labour denies SNP defection claim

A Sunday newspaper reported that the SNP hierarchy had held secret "high-level" discussions with a Labour MP ahead of next May's election.

It was suggested that the replacement of Trident and the war in Iraq had led to the talks.

But a Scottish Labour spokesman insisted the Labour MP did not exist.

"These talks are so secret that no Labour MP has been involved in them," he said.

He said the questions Labour MPs were more keen to speak to Alex Salmond about were SNP education plans, the costs of a local income tax and the "£11bn black hole" in his plans to separate Scotland from the rest of UK.

He added: "Maybe Alex Salmond is so keen to speak to Labour MPs because Labour is the party with ideas for Scotland's future that will unlock the potential of every Scot, and SNP MPs are fighting like ferrets in a sack."

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