Labour's says there will be “no pacts, no deals, no understandings” with the SNP over a second independence referendum.
The Shadow Chancellor believes his party’s policies will be good enough to win over the electorate and gain support from some of their political rivals.
If Jeremy Corbyn ends up in Downing Street after the next general election, it would almost certainly be as the leader of a minority government.
Most polls have them neck-and-neck with the Liberal Democrats, with the Conservatives, somehow, still projected to be the largest party.
So if Labour were to achieve power, they will undoubtedly need the backing of parties hostile to the Tories’ agenda.
Step forward the SNP, who Labour should be able to work with to reverse the impoverishment of families across the UK.
They have been steadfast opponents of Brexit and worked with others to rule out a no-deal departure from the EU.
The SNP might not be able to secure a commitment from Labour for IndyRef2, at the stage.
But both sides should be open to pacts, deals and understandings when it comes to making sure the Tories are booted out of office.
Too lax on tax
The UK tax system needs a complete overhaul. It is as, John McDonnell says, “grotesquely” unfair.
Corporate giants too often rake in massive profits and pay relatively little in tax.
A case in point is Facebook UK, whose turnover has soared to a record £1.6billion.
The social media giant paid a fraction of this amount to the Exchequer by using complex financial arrangements to limit their tax burden.
But while we can rail against big companies for not paying their fair share, no one – from the man or woman on the street to the wealthiest corporation – is going to pay more tax than they must.
The biggest problem is that successive governments do nothing to make the wealthiest pay more.
Big business has been allowed to get away with paying less than its fair share for far too long.
Feeling all woolly
Melanie MacLean was feeling sheepish when she sold Norman the lamb at market.
So she made a 540-mile round trip from the Outer Hebrides to save her fleecey friend.
Now Norman is back home in Benbecula – having narrowly avoided being, literally, a lamb to the slaughter.
