(Transcript from World News Radio)
After a failed bid for Scottish independence last year - a resurgent Scottish National Party is widely tipped to hold the balance of power after next month's British national elections.
Launching its manifesto - the SNP has vowed to represent the interests of voters across the UK.
The ruling Conservatives, however, portray a potential alliance between the SNP and Labour as dangerous.
Rena Sarumpaet reports.
Sidelined for decades - winning no more than 11 seats in the UK Parliament - the Scottish National Party is on a roll.
In Edinburgh, SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon unveiled her party's manifesto - with polls predicting it could take at least 50 of the 59 seats Scotland sends to Westminster.
This, at the expense of Labour - which faces a wipe-out in Scotland.
Ms Sturgeon declared that - as well as strengthening Scotland's hand at Westminster - she wants to build bridges with the rest of the UK.
"We will then seek to use our influence positively and constructively to make a Labour government bolder and better. We will seek to make common cause and build alliances with others of like mind across the UK to deliver the progressive change that so many want to see."
The offer of "friendship" to voters outside Scotland has won mixed responses at Carlisle, south of the border.
"I just don't agree with them coming down here, sort of taking over....They might do us all a favour by helping us out."
Neither the ruling Conservatives nor Labour look likely to win an outright majority at the May 7th poll.
If the SNP does become power-broker in a hung parliament - Nicola Sturgeon wants a Labour-led government to cut less and borrow more.
"It is a manifesto above all else to end austerity. That will be our number one priority."
She wants slightly higher public spending, while Labour talks of spending cuts, to fight debt and deficit.
Still, the Conservative Prime Minister David Cameron lumps the two parties' policies together - warning of a dangerous alliance.
"If Labour and the SNP get into power, you're going to see an alliance between a party that want to spend, borrow and tax more - with another party that wants to spend, borrow and tax even more. It might be a match made in heaven for them, but it is a match made in hell for the British economy."
As for Scottish independence, that's no longer the main game, according to Nicola Sturgeon.
"The SNP will always support independence, but this election (applause)...but this election is not about independence." (laughter ends)
Labour leader Ed Miliband, however, has his concerns about the party with which he may strike an informal arrangement.
"The fact that they haven't ruled out a second referendum in the next five years..having said that it was a once in generation, once in a lifetime decision - I think that's the wrong priority for the people of Scotland and the people of the United Kingdom."
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