EXCLUSIVE
Tom Gordon
Scottish Political Editor
WILLIE Rennie has opened the door to a coalition deal with the SNP at Holyrood, including a possible second independence referendum.
The Scottish LibDem leader told the Sunday Herald he could "absolutely" work with the SNP in coalition after the 2016 election.
The LibDems have repeatedly ruled out any deal with the SNP at Westminster after May 7, arguing a party which is against the UK should not be allowed to run it.
However Rennie made it clear there was no ban on working with the SNP at Holyrood.
Speaking of his respect for First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, he said: "I admire her in many ways. There's no doubt that she's got talent, and I can work with her."
Asked if that meant he could work with the SNP in coalition, he said: "Yes, possibly. I mean absolutely, absolutely. I think it's not impossible. We'll consider all the factors when it comes to the time, because so much can change over the next year."
Rennie's "never say never" attitude is in marked contrast to that of his predecessor, Tavish Scott, who blocked an alliance with the SNP after the 2007 Scottish election, forcing Alex Salmond to run a minority government.
Scott adopted the same hardline for the 2011 Scottish election.
But his reign came to an abrupt end when the LibDems lost 11 of their 16 MSPs in that poll, and Rennie replaced him as leader.
In an interview with the Sunday Herald, Rennie repeatedly refused to rule out a second referendum as part of a coalition with the SNP.
Pressed on whether a referendum would be a red line issue for the LiDems or negotiable, he said: "It depends how many votes we get. We will look at all these things when we get closer to the time."
Asked why he was not ruling it out, he said: "Because I'm a very reasonable guy."
However added he did not want a referendum, and that it would be difficult for the SNP to go to include one in their manifesto, given the short time since the last one.
The day after he spoke to the Sunday Herald, Rennie told another newspaper a second referendum would be a "deal-breaker" after all, sowing confusion on the point.
Last week Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson also refused to rule out helping the SNP govern at Holyrood, saying merely she didn't "see it happening".
Although the SNP won an outright majority in 2011, with 69 of 129 MSPs, the party is far from assured of a second one, making LibDem support a credible option next time.
An SNP spokesman said: "Willie Rennie would do better to focus on how many seats the Lib Dems are going to manage to hold onto in this election, before speculating about next year. Our priority is earning people's trust to deliver a strong team of MPs at Westminster on May 7, before working for re-election in next year's Holyrood election."
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