I thought that "selling out to Scotland" was seen as a big image problem?
Anglo-Scottish relations are nothing like that bad - the problem with being seen to be too close to the SNP is the second initial not the first. But the specific issue at the 2015 election was that Alec Salmond was, and is, a hated figure in England (and also to an extent Wales), generally seen as a borderline racist Anglophobic prick. Although he was no longer the First Minister or leader of the SNP by that point, it was still plausible for the Conservatives to portray him as the power behind the throne in Scotland and, by extension, as taking a similar role across the UK in the event of a Labour minority administration. Extremely dishonest for many reasons, but very effective. Things are different now: Nichola Sturgeon is not liked in England, but she isn't a hate figure, it is very unlikely that the General Election would be held less than a year after an Independence referendum, and I don't think that casting Starmer as a weak, pliable figure would work either.
Do you know if there exists any polling on Sturgeon's favorability #s among English voters (preferably by party)? Would be interested in gaging if there's a demographic of Labour voters in England who see her as a respectable opposition figure of sorts.
Poll
