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I have been in some scrapes in my political life.

Being shouted at on Liverpool docks as a young union official, turning round a crowd of striking miners who felt betrayed by Kinnock – and of course that incident with an egg in Rhyl.

But nothing compared to the ­Scottish Referendum last year.

The hatred shown by nationalists towards anyone who questioned ­independence was ugly and brutal.

I remember having SNP supporters scream “traitor” into my face, their spittle like venom.

Those who dared put up pro-UK posters ended up with their windows smashed. People became too ­frightened to speak out.

But when the vote happened, that silent majority found its voice and 55 per cent of Scots said “naw”.

Now after licking its wounds and egos, the SNP wants payback.

Nicola Sturgeon, a shrewder leader than Alex Salmond, paints herself as a left-winger who wants to lock the Tories out of Downing Street.

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But the mask has slipped with the Scottish Office memo of a conversation between Sturgeon and a French diplomat in which she reportedly claimed she’d prefer Cameron to stay as Prime Minister.

She may have denied this, along with the Frenchman. But he’s a diplomat so he’s obviously being diplomatic.

Cameron back in No10 would be a dream come true for the SNP.

We’d see a divisive EU ­referendum with many Tories and UKIP campaigning to leave, letting ­Sturgeon wrap herself in Europe’s flag and call again for independence.

Until then she’ll keep saying she favours Labour, whilst at the same time making demands that will drive voters to the Tories.

If Ed Miliband gets the chance to govern as a minority government, then he should grab it with both hands.

If Sturgeon really wants to lock the Tories out of Downing Street, why is she making demands?

I remember all too well the fall of the Labour Government in 1979.

We lost by one vote after the SNP voted with the Conservatives to bring down Labour and let in Thatcher.

And how did Maggie repay them?

She locked out Labour for 18 years, refused devolution to Scotland and forced the poll tax on them.

Since then, I’ve never trusted a nationalist, whether UKIP, Plaid Cymru or SNP.

And Cameron is as devious as a Scots Nat. If he can cut a deal to cling to power, he’ll do a deal with anyone.

He gave the Lib Dems a referendum on AV. I wouldn’t be surprised if he gave the SNP another go at ­independence just so he can stay in No10.

Nicola Sturgeon may wish to be seen as a German Chancellor Angela Merkel figure.

But Merkel built consensus, not sought confrontation. Merkel sought to reunite her country, not break it apart.

I worked with Angela Merkel on the Kyoto Climate Change Treaty.

I knew Angela Merkel. Angela Merkel is a friend of mine. Ms Sturgeon, you’re no Mrs Merkel.

But there’s one person she is a dead ringer for.

Bloody minded, jingoistic and prepared to divide and rule to get her own way. Margaret Thatcher would be proud.