Sinn Féin has indicated that the party would welcome a "constructive working relationship" with SNP MPs after the General Election on May 5.

The Irish nationalists have five MPs but the party boycotts the House of Commons. A Sinn Féin spokesman was forced to deny recent reports that they are in talks with Labour over a deal to prop up an Ed Miliband government.

This abstentionism policy is expected to continue but Sinn Féin MPs who refuse to take their seats on the green benches will still work with parliamentary colleagues from other parties.

It is understood that the SNP group at Westminster has been reluctant to embrace fellow nationalist MPs from Sinn Féin, due to its history.

However, Michelle Gildernew, who has represented the Fermanagh and South Tyrone seat since 2001, has this week extended the hand of friendship.

She said: "We have worked very closely with MPs over a period of years but the SNP Westminster team seem to be a little bit cautious.

"I know our deputy First Minister (Martin McGuinness) has had a very constructive and useful working relationship with the SNP at Holyrood for many years.

"I'm hoping that after the General Election we can form relationships with a larger SNP team at Westminster.

"We have plenty of commonality and I look forward to a very constructive working relationship during the next term."

The 44-year-old Sinn Féin politician expects a hung parliament in May and has kept a close watching brief as the SNP's Nicola Sturgeon has forged an alliance with Plaid Cymru's Leanne Wood ahead of expected coalition talks.

Gildernew is an admirer of both party leaders, particularly Scotland's First Minister whose career she has followed.

"I think she's great," said the MP. "I was delighted when she became the leader of the SNP. I think she'll do fantastic things.

"She'll be an excellent First Minister for Scotland and hopefully take Scotland the next step, to independence.

"I'm really impressed by her ambitions for her country and the vision she has for a better Scotland."

Sturgeon is likely to be front and centre as Labour and the Conservatives jostle for position after the election.

Gildernew said Sinn Féin is "looking at the ramifications" of a hung parliament but won't roll back on abstentionism.

She said: "I don't know how involved we'll be in coalition talks - obviously we're abstentionist MPs so that makes a difference immediately. Our position on that has been very clear. We'll continue to be abstentionist MPs.

"However, I would hope the SNP will do well and it will be Labour that is the biggest party, not the Tories."