Labour leader Ed Miliband does not share the SNP’s commitment to “progressive politics” and ending public spending cuts, Scotland’s First Minister has claimed.
Nicola Sturgeon hit out at the Labour leader for saying he would not consider a post-election deal with the SNP if Thursday’s general election results in a hung parliament.
On Thursday, Mr Miliband declared: “‘If the price of a Labour government is a coalition or a deal with the SNP, it is not going to happen.”
And he repeated the statement at a Labour rally in Glasgow last night, adding: “We cannot do a deal with a party that wants to break up the UK when we want to build it up.”
Ms Sturgeon, who is undertaking a whistle-stop helicopter tour of key Scottish constituencies, pledged her party’s MPs would “work to build progressive alliances at Westminster and deliver an end to the cuts”.
But she said: “What is now clear is that Ed Miliband does not share the same commitment.
“No one who is truly committed to delivering progressive politics would contemplate for one minute ushering the Tories back into office, rather than work with the SNP.”
The SNP leader spoke out as the final weekend of campaigning before the May 7 poll got under way
Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson will also spend the day travelling around a number of constituencies.
She said: “I’m incredibly proud of the Scottish Conservative candidates we’re fielding in this campaign. What Scotland needs now more than ever are Scottish Conservative MPs who will stand up to the SNP and back our United Kingdom come what may.
“My pledge to all of Scotland’s pro-UK majority is to honour last year’s referendum result, and to keep our great country together.”
Elsewhere former prime minister Gordon Brown is expected join forces with Scottish Labour leader Jim Murphy in a bid to boost support for their party.
Meanwhile former Liberal Democrat leader Charles Kennedy will team up with Chief Secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander and Scottish Lib Dem leader Willie Rennie.
The three politicians will travel around the Highlands – where the Liberal Democrats face losing seats to the SNP – in an open topped classic car, telling voters that it is vital to keep “Liberal values at the heart of government”.