diff --git a/UltiSnips/all.snippets b/UltiSnips/all.snippets
index 1df4297..0a0aa3d 100644
--- a/UltiSnips/all.snippets
+++ b/UltiSnips/all.snippets
@@ -4,41 +4,40 @@
 ##############
 # NICE BOXES #
 ##############
+global !p
+def cs(snip):
+    c = '#'
+    cs = snip.opt("&commentstring")
+    if len(cs) == 3:
+        c = cs[0]
+    return c
+endglobal
+
 snippet box "A nice box with the current comment symbol" b
 `!p
-c = '#'
-cs = vim.eval("&commentstring")
-if len(cs) == 3:
-	c = cs[0]
-snip.locals["c"] = c
+c = cs(snip)
 
 snip.rv = (len(t[1])+4)*c
-snip.locals["bar"] = snip.rv
+bar = snip.rv
 snip += c + ' '`${1:content}`!p
-c = snip.locals["c"]
 
 snip.rv = ' ' + c
-snip += snip.locals["bar"]`
+snip += bar`
 $0
 endsnippet
 
 snippet bbox "A nice box over the full width" b
 `!p
-c = '#'
-cs = vim.eval("&commentstring")
-if len(cs) == 3:
-	c = cs[0]
-snip.locals["c"] = c
-snip.locals["bar"] = 75*c 
+c = cs(snip)
+bar = 75*c 
 
-snip.rv = snip.locals["bar"]
+snip.rv = bar
 snip += c + " " + (71-len(t[1]))/2*' '
 `${1:content}`!p
-c = snip.locals["c"]
 
 a = 71-len(t[1])
 snip.rv = (a/2 + a%2) * " " + " " + c 
-snip += snip.locals["bar"]`
+snip += bar`
 $0
 endsnippet
 
diff --git a/UltiSnips/help.snippets b/UltiSnips/help.snippets
index 0a002e1..ad28431 100644
--- a/UltiSnips/help.snippets
+++ b/UltiSnips/help.snippets
@@ -1,35 +1,28 @@
 # Snippets for VIM Help Files
 
+global !p
+def sec_title(snip, t):
+    file_start = snip.fn.split('.')[0]
+    sec_name = t[1].strip("1234567890. ").lower().replace(' ', '-')
+    return ("*%s-%s*" % (file_start, sec_name)).rjust(77-len(t[1]))
+endglobal
+
 snippet sec "Section marker" b
 =============================================================================
-${1:SECTION}`!p 
-file_start = snip.fn.split('.')[0]
-sec_name = t[1].strip("1234567890. ").lower().replace(' ', '-')
-
-snip.rv = ("*%s-%s*" % (file_start, sec_name)).rjust(77-len(t[1]))`
+${1:SECTION}`!p snip.rv = sec_title(snip, t)`
 
 $0
 endsnippet
 
 snippet ssec "Sub section marker" b
-${1:Subsection}`!p 
-file_start = snip.fn.split('.')[0]
-sec_name = t[1].strip("1234567890. ").lower().replace(' ', '-')
-sec_title = ("*%s-%s*" % (file_start, sec_name)).rjust(77-len(t[1]))
-
-snip.rv = sec_title 
+${1:Subsection}`!p snip.rv = sec_title(snip, t)
 snip += "-"*len(t[1])`
 
 $0
 endsnippet
 
 snippet sssec "Subsub Section marker" b
-${1:SubSubsection}:`!p 
-file_start = fn.split('.')[0]
-sec_name = t[1].strip("1234567890. ").lower().replace(' ', '-')
-sec_title = ("*%s-%s*" % (file_start, sec_name)).rjust(77-len(t[1]))
-
-snip.rv = sec_title`
+${1:SubSubsection}:`!p snip.rv = sec_title(snip, t)`
 
 $0
 endsnippet
diff --git a/UltiSnips/html.snippets b/UltiSnips/html.snippets
index bb1a585..e977be5 100644
--- a/UltiSnips/html.snippets
+++ b/UltiSnips/html.snippets
@@ -2,6 +2,14 @@
 #                            TextMate Snippets                            #
 ###########################################################################
 
+global !p
+def x(snip):
+    if snip.ft.startswith("x"):
+        snip.rv = '/'
+    else:
+        snip.rv = ""
+endglobal
+
 ############
 # Doctypes #
 ############
@@ -112,12 +120,12 @@ endsnippet
 # HTML TAGS #
 #############
 snippet input "Input with Label"
-<label for="${2:${1/[[:alpha:]]+|( )/(?1:_:\L$0)/g}}">$1</label><input type="${3:text/submit/hidden/button}" name="${4:$2}" value="$5"${6: id="${7:$2}"}`!p if snip.ft.startswith("x"): snip.rv = '/'`>
+<label for="${2:${1/[[:alpha:]]+|( )/(?1:_:\L$0)/g}}">$1</label><input type="${3:text/submit/hidden/button}" name="${4:$2}" value="$5"${6: id="${7:$2}"}`!p x(snip)`>
 
 endsnippet
 
 snippet input "XHTML   <input>"
-<input type="${1:text/submit/hidden/button}" name="${2:some_name}" value="$3"${4: id="${5:$2}"}`!p if snip.ft.startswith("x"): snip.rv = '/'`>
+<input type="${1:text/submit/hidden/button}" name="${2:some_name}" value="$3"${4: id="${5:$2}"}`!p x(snip)`>
 endsnippet
 
 
@@ -143,7 +151,7 @@ snippet mailto "XHTML <a mailto: >"
 endsnippet
 
 snippet base "XHTML <base>"
-<base href="$1"${2: target="$3"}`!p if snip.ft.startswith("x"): snip.rv = '/'`>
+<base href="$1"${2: target="$3"}`!p x(snip)`>
 endsnippet
 
 snippet body "XHTML <body>"
@@ -166,7 +174,7 @@ snip.rv = (snip.basename or 'unnamed') + '_submit'
 `}" method="${2:get}" accept-charset="utf-8">
 	$0
 
-	<p><input type="submit" value="Continue →"`!p if snip.ft.startswith("x"): snip.rv = '/'`></p>
+	<p><input type="submit" value="Continue →"`!p x(snip)`></p>
 </form>
 endsnippet
 
@@ -176,18 +184,18 @@ endsnippet
 
 snippet head "XHTML <head>"
 <head>
-	<meta http-equiv="Content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"`!p if snip.ft.startswith("x"): snip.rv = '/'`>
+	<meta http-equiv="Content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"`!p x(snip)`>
 	<title>${1:`!p snip.rv = snip.basename or "Page Title"`}</title>
 	$0
 </head>
 endsnippet
 
 snippet link "XHTML <link>"
-<link rel="${1:stylesheet}" href="${2:/css/master.css}" type="text/css" media="${3:screen}" title="${4:no title}" charset="${5:utf-8}"`!p if snip.ft.startswith("x"): snip.rv = '/'`>
+<link rel="${1:stylesheet}" href="${2:/css/master.css}" type="text/css" media="${3:screen}" title="${4:no title}" charset="${5:utf-8}"`!p x(snip)`>
 endsnippet
 
 snippet meta "XHTML <meta>"
-<meta name="${1:name}" content="${2:content}"`!p if snip.ft.startswith("x"): snip.rv = '/'`>
+<meta name="${1:name}" content="${2:content}"`!p x(snip)`>
 endsnippet
 
 snippet scriptsrc "XHTML <script src...>"
@@ -227,15 +235,15 @@ endsnippet
 
 snippet movie "Embed QT movie (movie)" b
 <object width="$2" height="$3" classid="clsid:02BF25D5-8C17-4B23-BC80-D3488ABDDC6B" codebase="http://www.apple.com/qtactivex/qtplugin.cab">
-	<param name="src" value="$1"`!p snip.locals['xhtml'] =  snip.ft.startswith("x") and "/" or ""; snip.rv = snip.locals['xhtml']`>
-	<param name="controller" value="$4"`!p snip.rv = snip.locals['xhtml']`>
-	<param name="autoplay" value="$5"`!p snip.rv = snip.locals['xhtml']`>
+	<param name="src" value="$1"`!p x(snip)`>
+	<param name="controller" value="$4"`!p x(snip)`>
+	<param name="autoplay" value="$5"`!p x(snip)`>
 	<embed src="${1:movie.mov}"
 		width="${2:320}" height="${3:240}"
 		controller="${4:true}" autoplay="${5:true}"
 		scale="tofit" cache="true"
 		pluginspage="http://www.apple.com/quicktime/download/"
-	`!p snip.rv = snip.locals['xhtml']`>
+	`!p x(snip)`>
 </object>
 endsnippet
 
diff --git a/UltiSnips/python.snippets b/UltiSnips/python.snippets
index f14e68c..4fee752 100644
--- a/UltiSnips/python.snippets
+++ b/UltiSnips/python.snippets
@@ -23,26 +23,33 @@ endsnippet
 # "g:ultisnips_python_style" which, if set to "doxygen" will use doxygen
 # style comments in docstrings.
 
+global !p
+def get_args(arglist, snip):
+    args = [arg.split('=')[0].strip() for arg in arglist.split(',') if arg]
+    args = [arg for arg in args if arg and arg != "self"]
+
+    if args:
+        snip += ""
+
+    for arg in args:
+        style = snip.opt("g:ultisnips_python_style", "normal")
+        if style == "doxygen":
+            snip += "@param %s TODO" % arg
+        else:
+            snip += ":%s: TODO" % arg
+    return args
+endglobal
+
 snippet class "smart class" b
 class ${1:MyClass}(${2:object}):
 	""" ${3:Docstring for $1 }"""
 
 	def __init__(self$4):
 		""" ${5:TODO: Fill me in}`!p
+snip.rv = ""
 snip >> 2
 
-args = [arg.split('=')[0].strip() for arg in t[4].split(',') if arg]
-args = [arg for arg in args if arg and arg != "self"]
-
-if args:
-    snip += ""
-
-for arg in args:
-    style = snip.opt("g:ultisnips_python_style", "normal")
-    if style == "doxygen":
-        snip += "@param %s TODO" % arg
-    else:
-        snip += ":%s: TODO" % arg
+args = get_args(t[4], snip)
 
 if args:
     snip += '"""'
@@ -65,24 +72,14 @@ def ${1:function}(${2:self}):
 snip.rv = "" # Force update
 snip >> 1
 
-args = [arg.split('=')[0].strip() for arg in t[2].split(',') if arg]
-args = [arg for arg in args if arg and arg != "self"]
-
-if args:
-    snip += ""
-
-snip.locals["style"] = style = snip.opt("g:ultisnips_python_style", "normal")
-for arg in args:
-    if style == "doxygen":
-        snip += "@param %s TODO" % arg
-    else:
-        snip += ":%s: TODO" % arg
+args = get_args(t[2], snip)
 
 `${4:
 
     `!p
 snip.rv = "" # Force update
-style = snip.locals["style"]
+style = snip.opt("g:ultisnips_python_style", "normal")
+
 if style == "doxygen":
     snip.rv = "@return"
 else:
diff --git a/doc/UltiSnips.txt b/doc/UltiSnips.txt
index 442fd06..c03d574 100644
--- a/doc/UltiSnips.txt
+++ b/doc/UltiSnips.txt
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ UltiSnips                                      *snippet* *snippets* *UltiSnips*
       4.3.1 Shellcode                           |UltiSnips-shellcode|
       4.3.2 VimScript                           |UltiSnips-vimscript|
       4.3.3 Python                              |UltiSnips-python|
+      4.3.4 Global Snippets                     |UltiSnips-globals|
    4.4 Tab Stops and Placeholders               |UltiSnips-tabstops|
    4.6 Mirrors                                  |UltiSnips-mirrors|
    4.7 Transformations                          |UltiSnips-transformations|
@@ -202,7 +203,7 @@ snippet on. The options currently supported are >
        match. The regular expression MUST be surrounded like a multi-word
        trigger (see above) even if it doesn't have any spaces. The resulting
        match is also passed to any python code blocks in your snippet
-       definition in the as "snips.local['match']".
+       definition as the local variable "match".
 
 4.2 Plaintext snippets                         *UltiSnips-plaintext-snippets*
 ----------------------
@@ -281,7 +282,7 @@ which can be used: >
    fn   - The current filename
    path - The complete path to the current file
    t    - The values of the placeholders, t[1] -> current text of ${1} and so on
-   snip - Provides easy indentation handling, and snippet-local variables.
+   snip - Provides easy indentation handling.
 
 The snip object provides the following methods: >
 
@@ -307,10 +308,6 @@ The snip object provides the following methods: >
 
 The snip object provides some properties as well: >
 
-    snip.locals:
-        Is a dictionary which is available to any python block inside the
-        snippet.
-
     snip.rv:
         the text that will fill this python block's position, it always starts
         out as an empty string. This deprecates the "res" variable.
@@ -339,6 +336,7 @@ easier: >
     snip += line:
         is equivalent to "snip.rv += '\n' + snip.mkline(line)"
 
+Any variables set in a python block can be used in any following blocks.
 Also, the vim, re, os, string and random modules are already imported inside
 the snippet code. This allows for very flexible snippets. For example, the
 following snippet mirrors the first Tab Stops value on the same line in
@@ -352,6 +350,29 @@ endsnippet
 wow<tab>Hello World ->
 Hello World                                                     HELLO WORLD 
 
+ 4.3.4 Global Snippets:                                   *UltiSnips-globals*
+
+Global snippets provide a way to take common code out of snippets. Currently,
+only python code is supported. The result of executing the contents of the
+snippet is put into the globals of each python block in the snippet file. To
+create a global snippet, you use the keyword "global" in place of "snippet",
+and for python code, you use "!p" for the trigger, for example, the following
+is identical to the previous example, except that "upper_right" can be reused:
+
+------------------- SNIP -------------------
+global !p
+def upper_right(inp):
+    return (75 - 2 * len(inp))*' ' + inp.upper()
+endglobal
+
+snippet wow
+${1:Text}`!p snip.rv = upper_right(t[1])` 
+endsnippet
+------------------- SNAP -------------------
+wow<tab>Hello World ->
+Hello World                                                     HELLO WORLD 
+
+
 4.4 Tab Stops and Placeholders  *UltiSnips-tabstops* *UltiSnips-placeholders*
 ------------------------------
 
diff --git a/plugin/UltiSnips/TextObjects.py b/plugin/UltiSnips/TextObjects.py
index 1651677..c88f274 100644
--- a/plugin/UltiSnips/TextObjects.py
+++ b/plugin/UltiSnips/TextObjects.py
@@ -705,17 +705,10 @@ class _Tabs(object):
         return ts.current_text
 
 class SnippetUtil(object):
-    """ Provides easy access to indentation, and
-    snippet-local variables, which can be accessed by
-    any PythonCode object in the snippet.
+    """ Provides easy access to indentation, etc.
     """
 
-    def __init__(self, initial_indent, cur="", snippet=None):
-        if snippet:
-            self._locals = snippet.locals
-        else:
-            self._locals = {}
-
+    def __init__(self, initial_indent, cur=""):
         self._sw = int(vim.eval("&sw"))
         self._sts = int(vim.eval("&sts"))
         self._et = (vim.eval("&expandtab") == "1")
@@ -842,11 +835,6 @@ class SnippetUtil(object):
         """
         return self._c
 
-    @property
-    def locals(self):
-        """ Provides snippet local variables. """
-        return self._locals
-
     def opt(self, option, default=None):
         """ Gets a vim variable. """
         if vim.eval("exists('%s')" % option) == "1":
@@ -884,7 +872,12 @@ class PythonCode(TextObject):
                 snippet = snippet._parent
             except AttributeError:
                 snippet = None
-        self._snip = SnippetUtil(indent, snippet=snippet)
+        self._snip = SnippetUtil(indent)
+        self._locals = snippet.locals
+
+        self._globals = {}
+        globals = snippet.globals.get("!p", [])
+        exec "\n".join(globals) in self._globals
 
         # Add Some convenience to the code
         self._code = "import re, os, vim, string, random\n" + code
@@ -900,21 +893,23 @@ class PythonCode(TextObject):
 
         ct = self.current_text
         self._snip._reset(ct)
-        d = {
+        local_d = self._locals
+
+        local_d.update({
             't': _Tabs(self),
             'fn': fn,
             'path': path,
             'cur': ct,
             'res': ct,
             'snip' : self._snip,
-        }
+        })
 
-        exec self._code in d
+        exec self._code in self._globals, local_d
 
         if self._snip._rv_changed:
             self.current_text = self._snip.rv
         else:
-            self.current_text = str(d["res"])
+            self.current_text = str(local_d["res"])
 
     def __repr__(self):
         return "PythonCode(%s -> %s)" % (self._start, self._end)
@@ -945,13 +940,14 @@ class SnippetInstance(TextObject):
     """
 
     # TODO: for beauty sake, start and end should come before initial text
-    def __init__(self, parent, indent, initial_text, start = None, end = None, last_re = None):
+    def __init__(self, parent, indent, initial_text, start = None, end = None, last_re = None, globals = None):
         if start is None:
             start = Position(0,0)
         if end is None:
             end = Position(0,0)
 
         self.locals = {"match" : last_re}
+        self.globals = globals
 
         TextObject.__init__(self, parent, start, end, initial_text)
 
diff --git a/plugin/UltiSnips/__init__.py b/plugin/UltiSnips/__init__.py
index 1863387..12d42a4 100644
--- a/plugin/UltiSnips/__init__.py
+++ b/plugin/UltiSnips/__init__.py
@@ -63,6 +63,7 @@ class _SnippetsFileParser(object):
         self._sm = snip_manager
         self._ft = ft
         self._fn = fn
+        self._globals = {}
         if file_data is None:
             self._lines = open(fn).readlines()
         else:
@@ -96,17 +97,17 @@ class _SnippetsFileParser(object):
         self._idx += 1
         return self._line()
 
-    def _parse_snippet(self):
-        line = self._line()
-
+    def _parse_first(self, line):
+        """ Parses the first line of the snippet definition. Returns the
+        snippet type, trigger, description, and options in a tuple in that
+        order.
+        """
         cdescr = ""
         coptions = ""
         cs = ""
 
         # Ensure this is a snippet
         snip = line.split()[0]
-        if snip != "snippet":
-            self._error("Expecting 'snippet' not: %s" % snip)
 
         # Get and strip options if they exist
         remain = line[len(snip):].lstrip()
@@ -133,17 +134,37 @@ class _SnippetsFileParser(object):
             else:
                 cs = cs[1:-1]
 
+        return (snip, cs, cdescr, coptions)
+    
+    def _parse_snippet(self):
+        line = self._line()
+
+        (snip, trig, desc, opts) = self._parse_first(line)
+        end = "end" + snip
         cv = ""
+
         while self._goto_next_line():
             line = self._line()
-            if line.rstrip() == "endsnippet":
+            if line.rstrip() == end:
                 cv = cv[:-1] # Chop the last newline
-                if cs:
-                    self._sm.add_snippet(cs, cv, cdescr, coptions, self._ft)
                 break
             cv += line
         else:
-            self._error("Missing 'endsnippet' for %r" % cs)
+            self._error("Missing 'endsnippet' for %r" % trig)
+            return None
+
+        if not trig:
+            # there was an error
+            return None
+        elif snip == "global":
+            # add snippet contents to file globals
+            if trig not in self._globals:
+                self._globals[trig] = []
+            self._globals[trig].append(cv)
+        elif snip == "snippet":
+            self._sm.add_snippet(trig, cv, desc, opts, self._ft, self._globals)
+        else:
+            self._error("Invalid snippet type: '%s'" % snip)
 
     def parse(self):
         while self._line():
@@ -154,7 +175,7 @@ class _SnippetsFileParser(object):
                         [ p.strip() for p in tail.split(',') ])
                 else:
                     self._error("'extends' without file types")
-            elif head == "snippet":
+            elif head in ("snippet", "global"):
                 self._parse_snippet()
             elif head == "clearsnippets":
                 self._sm.clear_snippets(tail.split(), self._ft)
@@ -168,13 +189,14 @@ class _SnippetsFileParser(object):
 class Snippet(object):
     _INDENT = re.compile(r"^[ \t]*")
 
-    def __init__(self, trigger, value, descr, options):
+    def __init__(self, trigger, value, descr, options, globals):
         self._t = trigger
         self._v = value
         self._d = descr
         self._opts = options
         self._matched = ""
         self._last_re = None
+        self._globals = globals
 
     def __repr__(self):
         return "Snippet(%s,%s,%s)" % (self._t,self._d,self._opts)
@@ -337,10 +359,10 @@ class Snippet(object):
 
         if parent is None:
             return SnippetInstance(StartMarker(start), indent,
-                    v, last_re = self._last_re)
+                    v, last_re = self._last_re, globals = self._globals)
         else:
             return SnippetInstance(parent, indent, v, start,
-                    end, last_re = self._last_re)
+                    end, last_re = self._last_re, globals = self._globals)
 
 class VimState(object):
     def __init__(self):
@@ -504,11 +526,11 @@ class SnippetManager(object):
         if not rv:
             self._handle_failure(self.expand_trigger)
 
-    def add_snippet(self, trigger, value, descr, options, ft = "all"):
+    def add_snippet(self, trigger, value, descr, options, ft = "all", globals = None):
         if ft not in self._snippets:
             self._snippets[ft] = _SnippetDictionary()
         l = self._snippets[ft].add_snippet(
-            Snippet(trigger, value, descr, options)
+            Snippet(trigger, value, descr, options, globals or {})
         )
 
     def clear_snippets(self, triggers = [], ft = "all"):
diff --git a/test.py b/test.py
index 7c29faf..b647503 100755
--- a/test.py
+++ b/test.py
@@ -739,8 +739,8 @@ class PythonCode_OptNoExists(_VimTest):
 
 # locals
 class PythonCode_Locals(_VimTest):
-    snippets = ("test", r"""hi `!p snip.locals["a"] = "test"
-snip.rv = "nothing"` `!p snip.rv = snip.locals["a"]
+    snippets = ("test", r"""hi `!p a = "test"
+snip.rv = "nothing"` `!p snip.rv = a
 ` End""")
     keys = """test""" + EX
     wanted = """hi nothing test End"""
@@ -1468,14 +1468,14 @@ class SnippetOptions_Regex_Self_TextBefore(_Regex_Self):
     wanted = "a." + EX
 
 class SnippetOptions_Regex_PythonBlockMatch(_VimTest):
-    snippets = (r"([abc]+)([def]+)", r"""`!p m = snip.locals["match"]
+    snippets = (r"([abc]+)([def]+)", r"""`!p m = match
 snip.rv += m.group(2)
 snip.rv += m.group(1)
 `""", "", "r")
     keys = "test cabfed" + EX
     wanted = "test fedcab"
 class SnippetOptions_Regex_PythonBlockNoMatch(_VimTest):
-    snippets = (r"cabfed", r"""`!p snip.rv =  snip.locals["match"] or "No match"`""")
+    snippets = (r"cabfed", r"""`!p snip.rv =  match or "No match"`""")
     keys = "test cabfed" + EX
     wanted = "test No match"
 
@@ -1805,6 +1805,39 @@ class ParseSnippets_MultiWord_UnmatchedContainer(_VimTest):
         UltiSnips: Invalid multiword trigger: '!inv snip/' in test_file(2)
         """).strip()
 
+class ParseSnippets_Global_Python(_VimTest):
+    snippets_test_file = ("all", "test_file", r"""
+        global !p
+        def tex(ins):
+            return "a " + ins + " b"
+        endglobal
+
+        snippet ab
+        x `!p snip.rv = tex("bob")` y
+        endsnippet
+
+        snippet ac
+        x `!p snip.rv = tex("jon")` y
+        endsnippet
+        """)
+    keys = "ab" + EX + "\nac" + EX
+    wanted = "x a bob b y\nx a jon b y"
+
+class ParseSnippets_Global_Local_Python(_VimTest):
+    snippets_test_file = ("all", "test_file", r"""
+global !p
+def tex(ins):
+    return "a " + ins + " b"
+endglobal
+
+snippet ab
+x `!p first = tex("bob")
+snip.rv = "first"` `!p snip.rv = first` y
+endsnippet
+        """)
+    keys = "ab" + EX
+    wanted = "x first a bob b y"
+
 
 ###########################################################################
 #                               END OF TEST                               #