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| Scottish government claims Tory poster 'will boost SNP support' | Scottish government claims Tory poster 'will boost SNP support' |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A Conservative poster that depicts Ed Miliband in Alex Salmond's pocket shows Westminster has been "totally rocked" by the SNP, a Scottish government minister has said. | A Conservative poster that depicts Ed Miliband in Alex Salmond's pocket shows Westminster has been "totally rocked" by the SNP, a Scottish government minister has said. |
| Humza Yousaf also predicted the poster would increase support for the SNP. | Humza Yousaf also predicted the poster would increase support for the SNP. |
| The Tories unveiled the poster after calling on Labour to explicitly rule out a post-election deal with the SNP. | The Tories unveiled the poster after calling on Labour to explicitly rule out a post-election deal with the SNP. |
| Labour's Shadow Chancellor Ed Balls has said coalition with the SNP is "not part of our plans". | Labour's Shadow Chancellor Ed Balls has said coalition with the SNP is "not part of our plans". |
| Opinion polls have consistently suggested the SNP is on course to win the majority of Scotland's 59 seats in the general election on 7 May. | Opinion polls have consistently suggested the SNP is on course to win the majority of Scotland's 59 seats in the general election on 7 May. |
| This has led to speculation that the party could hold the balance of power in the event of a hung parliament, which many pollsters believe is the most likely outcome. | This has led to speculation that the party could hold the balance of power in the event of a hung parliament, which many pollsters believe is the most likely outcome. |
| 'Having a voice' | 'Having a voice' |
| On Saturday, Prime Miinster David Cameron called on Labour leader Mr Miliband to rule out a deal with the SNP "if he cares about this country". | |
| Mr Cameron tweeted an image of the new Conservatve poster on Monday alongside the caption: "Alex Salmond with Ed Miliband in his pocket. The frightening prospect we must avoid." | |
| In response, Mr Yousaf, the Scottish government's international development minister, said: "It is clear that the establishment is utterly rocked at the prospect of Scotland having a voice. | |
| "The more and more the prime minister talks about the SNP and talks down the SNP it will only increase our support in Scotland." | "The more and more the prime minister talks about the SNP and talks down the SNP it will only increase our support in Scotland." |
| The SNP has never said it would be willing to enter a coalition government if no single party commands a majority in the House of Commons. | The SNP has never said it would be willing to enter a coalition government if no single party commands a majority in the House of Commons. |
| The party has said it would not do any kind of deal with the Conservatives after the election, but has not ruled out the possibility of supporting a minority Labour government on an issue-by-issue basis, an arrangement known as "confidence and supply". | The party has said it would not do any kind of deal with the Conservatives after the election, but has not ruled out the possibility of supporting a minority Labour government on an issue-by-issue basis, an arrangement known as "confidence and supply". |
| Asked on Monday whether he could categorically rule out a deal with the SNP, Mr Balls said: "We have had for the last 48 hours a scare from the Conservatives about the SNP and coalitions. It's a complete nonsense argument. We want a majority and that's what we are fighting for." | Asked on Monday whether he could categorically rule out a deal with the SNP, Mr Balls said: "We have had for the last 48 hours a scare from the Conservatives about the SNP and coalitions. It's a complete nonsense argument. We want a majority and that's what we are fighting for." |
| Mr Balls added: "The SNP have said they don't want a coalition. It's not part of our plans. We don't want one, we don't need one, we're not after one. | Mr Balls added: "The SNP have said they don't want a coalition. It's not part of our plans. We don't want one, we don't need one, we're not after one. |
| "No large party in the last 100 years - Labour or Conservative - has ever fought a general election on the basis they wanted a coalition or deal with a small party. It's the last thing we want. What we want is a majority Labour government." | "No large party in the last 100 years - Labour or Conservative - has ever fought a general election on the basis they wanted a coalition or deal with a small party. It's the last thing we want. What we want is a majority Labour government." |
| 'Clear choice' | 'Clear choice' |
| Mr Balls was speaking after delivering a speech in London in which he accused the Conservatives of planning "extreme" post-election public spending cuts of £70bn as he unveiled Labour's analysis of how Conservative plans would affect non-protected Whitehall departments. | Mr Balls was speaking after delivering a speech in London in which he accused the Conservatives of planning "extreme" post-election public spending cuts of £70bn as he unveiled Labour's analysis of how Conservative plans would affect non-protected Whitehall departments. |
| Responding to Mr Balls' speech, Financial Secretary to the Treasury David Gauke said: "Ed Balls has today confirmed Labour's policy of billions of pounds of tax rises, more borrowing and more debt - which in reality would be even higher with an Ed Miliband government in the pocket of Alex Salmond and the SNP. | Responding to Mr Balls' speech, Financial Secretary to the Treasury David Gauke said: "Ed Balls has today confirmed Labour's policy of billions of pounds of tax rises, more borrowing and more debt - which in reality would be even higher with an Ed Miliband government in the pocket of Alex Salmond and the SNP. |
| "There is a clear choice at this election: sticking with the competence and stability of David Cameron and the Conservatives' long-term economic plan that's securing a better future for Britain - the deficit has been halved, there are 1.85 million more people with the security of a regular wage and the economy is recovering from Labour's Great Recession. | "There is a clear choice at this election: sticking with the competence and stability of David Cameron and the Conservatives' long-term economic plan that's securing a better future for Britain - the deficit has been halved, there are 1.85 million more people with the security of a regular wage and the economy is recovering from Labour's Great Recession. |
| "Or abandoning that plan for the SNP and Labour with hardworking taxpayers paying the price for the economic chaos that would result." | "Or abandoning that plan for the SNP and Labour with hardworking taxpayers paying the price for the economic chaos that would result." |
| Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg told a policy launch in east London: "Our view is that, in the same way we would not countenance putting UKIP in charge of the EU, we would not countenance putting the SNP in charge of a country that they want to rip apart. It's as simple as that." |