Nicola Sturgeon makes an announcement following the General Election (Picture: ITV)

In a scathing speech SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon has announced the party will form a coalition in order to keep the Conservatives out of power.

Addressing journalists in Edinburgh, Sturgeon said Theresa May has ‘lost all authority and credibility’ following general election result.

She added that says ‘reckless’ Conservative approach to Brexit should be abandoned.

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The SNP lost 21 seats in Westminster, including the shock defeat of former first minister Alex Salmond.


Ms Sturgeon added that she was ‘proud that the SNP won the election in Scotland with more MPs than all other parties combined’.

Though she acknowledged the party had suffered ‘bitterly disappointing losses’ and would now ‘reflect carefully on the results and move forward in the best interests of all of Scotland’.

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With the Tories having lost their majority in the Commons, the First Minister continued: ‘UK-wide, we will seek to work with others to halt hard Brexit and bring an end to austerity, where business as usual cannot be an option.’