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Ed Miliband rules out SNP coalition after election Ed Miliband rules out SNP coalition after election
(35 minutes later)
Ed Miliband has ruled out a Labour-SNP coalition in the event of a hung Parliament after May's election.Ed Miliband has ruled out a Labour-SNP coalition in the event of a hung Parliament after May's election.
The Labour leader said any alliance would "not happen" as there were "big differences" between the two partiesThe Labour leader said any alliance would "not happen" as there were "big differences" between the two parties
"There will be no SNP ministers in any government I lead," he said, claiming such talk was "scare-mongering" by his Conservative opponents."There will be no SNP ministers in any government I lead," he said, claiming such talk was "scare-mongering" by his Conservative opponents.
The Conservatives said this "changes nothing", saying Labour would have to rely on SNP support if it was in power.
The BBC's assistant political editor Norman Smith noted that Mr Miliband had not ruled out a more informal arrangement whereby the SNP could offer a Labour minority government support on a vote-by-vote basis, known as "confidence and supply".
The SNP has said it could help support a minority Labour government in power if there is no outright winner in May.The SNP has said it could help support a minority Labour government in power if there is no outright winner in May.
The SNP's rise in the opinion polls has fuelled talk it may hold the balance of power.The SNP's rise in the opinion polls has fuelled talk it may hold the balance of power.
SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon said earlier on Monday that her party would strive to bring "positive change across the UK" if it played any role in the next government, serving the UK's interests as well as those of Scotland.SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon said earlier on Monday that her party would strive to bring "positive change across the UK" if it played any role in the next government, serving the UK's interests as well as those of Scotland.
Mr Miliband has repeatedly said that talk of any post-election deal with the SNP was nonsense but has stopped short, until now, of explicitly ruling it out.
'Integrity of UK''Integrity of UK'
The Conservatives have seized on this to suggest that Labour is trying to get into power "on the coat tails" of the SNP. Mr Miliband has repeatedly said that talk of any post-election coalition with the SNP was nonsense but has stopped short, until now, of explicitly ruling it out.
Speaking at a campaign event in Leeds, Mr Miliband said Labour was striving "100%" for a majority so it could "bring about the change Britain needs". Shadow chancellor Ed Balls refused multiple times to rule out any deal on BBC One's Andrew Marr Show on Sunday, saying Labour was working to secure a majority.
The Conservatives have suggested that Labour was trying to get into power "on the coat tails" of the SNP.
At Prime Minister's Questions last week, David Cameron branded Mr Miliband "weak and despicable" for considering a deal with the SNP "who want to break up our country".
But speaking at a campaign event in Leeds, Mr Miliband said Labour was striving "100%" for a majority so it could "bring about the change Britain needs".
'Pocket'
On persistent talk from his opponents of a post-election deal with SNP, he said: "There are big differences between us on a whole range of issues, not just on the integrity of the UK and another referendum but on fair funding between the countries of the UK and fair taxes.On persistent talk from his opponents of a post-election deal with SNP, he said: "There are big differences between us on a whole range of issues, not just on the integrity of the UK and another referendum but on fair funding between the countries of the UK and fair taxes.
"In repeating this claim, the Conservatives and David Cameron are simply trying to scare people. Labour will not go into coalition with the SNP.""In repeating this claim, the Conservatives and David Cameron are simply trying to scare people. Labour will not go into coalition with the SNP."
The BBC's assistant political editor Norman Smith noted that Mr Miliband had not ruled out a more informal arrangement whereby the SNP could offer a Labour minority government support on a vote-by-vote basis, known as "confidence and supply". Mr Miliband said the "real danger" was a Conservative government propped up by the UK Independence Party.
A Conservative Party spokesman said: "This changes nothing. Ed Miliband will not rule out a deal with the SNP because he knows it's impossible to become prime minister without being carried into Downing Street in Alex Salmond's pocket."