article_snippet: We have got vast experience as a minority Government ...
article_snippet: It would be far better than what usually happens to Scotland at Westminster, which is we are ignored or sidelined. '
article_snippet: The bottom line here is, if Scotland wants to have that influence, that power, that clout in Westminster, the only way get it is to vote the SNP. '
article_snippet: If there is real SNP strength in the House of Commons we can force progressive change.'
article_snippet: She also repeated the threat from former First Minister Alex Salmond to lock the Tories out of government, even if David Cameron wins the most seats.
article_snippet: Brushing aside claims it was arrogant, Ms Sturgeon replied: 'If the Tories can't command a majority, then the Tories don't deserve to be in government.'
article_snippet: and that's to elect a Labour government.'
article_snippet: The agenda of the Scottish National Party is very obvious - the Scottish National Party want to drive down the vote of Labour in Scotland and the Scottish National Party want to drive up the Tory vote. '
article_snippet: (Ms Sturgeon) remains committed to independence.
article_snippet: Ms Sturgeon) judges the most propitious circumstances to be of a Tory government here in Westminster after the election in May, and after that to try to secure support in the 2016 election in Scotland for a second referendum.'
article_snippet: Later Ms Sturgeon) told BBC News: 'In that post-election scenario, if the SNP wins the trust of people in Scotland and is there in numbers, then we've said very clearly there are no circumstances in which we would support a Conservative government. '
article_snippet: She said that a fresh independence referendum would not be the price for a post-election deal: 'Voting SNP in the general election doesn't lead to another independence referendum. '
article_snippet: If there is to be another independence referendum - and I hope that one day there will be - that will only happen if people elect a Scottish Government in a Scottish Parliament election that has that in the manifesto and has the ability in the Scottish Parliament to pass that legislation.'