Tories press Miliband over SNP deal

[Raptor]

David Cameron has pressed Ed Miliband to rule out co-operating with the SNP after the Labour leader again rejected a post-election coalition.
Mr Miliband dismissed overtures from SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon during Thursday's TV debate, saying there were "profound" differences between them.
Labour launches its manifesto for Scotland later, where it is behind the SNP in the opinion polls.
The Conservatives, meanwhile, will focus on their record on job creation.
The last unemployment figures before polling day on 7 May, to be published at 09.30 BST, are expected to show a further fall in jobless totals.


The Conservatives have seized on remarks by International Monetary Fund head Christine Lagarde praising the strength of the UK recovery compared with the rest of the European Union.
Mr Miliband has challenged Mr Cameron to a one-on-one debate in the remaining three weeks of the campaign after the prime minister refused to take part in the BBC debate, which Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg also sat out.
During Thursday's 90-minute encounter, Mr Miliband, SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon, Green Party leader Natalie Bennett, UKIP's Nigel Farage and Plaid Cymru's Leanne Wood clashed over spending cuts, the NHS, immigration and defence.
A snap poll taken immediately after the debate suggested that Mr Miliband had come out of top but the BBC's Ross Hawkins said that all five leaders would have been satisfied with their performance.
Thursday's multi-party leaders' debate, the second and final one of the campaign, also saw Mr Farage criticise the process for choosing the studio audience which he described as "hostile" to UKIP.
The BBC said the normal procedures had been followed, with the audience selected by a polling company rather than the broadcaster. UKIP is not expected to make a complaint.
You can watch the full debate here
In other election news:

• Labour will outline plans to ban companies from offering unpaid work experience for more than four weeks
• Both the Conservatives and UKIP will launch their Welsh manifestos
• The Ulster Unionists launch their manifesto, after the Northern Ireland parties held their first TV debate
• Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg is campaigning in Scotland
• Almost a quarter of British Asians have yet to decide how to vote, research suggests

During Thursday's debate, Mr Miliband rejected an offer from SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon to "work together" to keep the Conservatives out of power in the event of one party no winning enough seats to form a government on their own.
Opinion polls have suggested the SNP is on course to win a swathe of seats in Scotland and to be in a powerful position in the event of an inconclusive result.
The SNP has ruled out any deal with the Conservatives but said they would be prepared to support Labour on a vote-by-vote basis.
'Be bolder'

Ms Sturgeon said she would only back a Labour government led by Mr Miliband if it rejected austerity and any private involvement in the NHS, but suggested they could "work together to lock David Cameron out of Downing Street".
"What I am saying is I can help Labour to be bolder to deliver the change we really need," she said. "Don't turn your back on that, Ed, and let David Cameron back into Downing Street."
But the Labour leader rejected any possibility of a coalition with the SNP, saying the two parties had "fundamental disagreements" over how to deal with the deficit, the future of the UK, and the need to renew the Trident nuclear weapons system.
Only a Labour victory could guarantee David Cameron not returning to Downing Street, he said.
He told Ms Sturgeon: "It's a no, I'm afraid", adding: "You say you want a Labour government but you are saying anyone but Labour."
Analysis by BBC Political Editor Nick Robinson

David Cameron's absence gave Mr Miliband the chance to taunt the absent prime minister for his lack of political courage.
It also allowed him to focus his fire on the SNP's Nicola Sturgeon, trying to create a distance which he has, so far, struggled to create. He rejected her repeated invitations to work together to "get rid of the Tories".
On the other hand the debate confirmed that the battle for Scotland is the defining drama of this election campaign. The images of the night, the video clips and the memorable sound bites are all of Ed v Nicola.
Conservative HQ and the Tory press will take delight in using them to conjure up the spectre of a weak minority Labour government being forced to deal with and placate a rampant SNP.
Read more from Nick here.
Mr Cameron - who has not ruled out another coalition after the election - urged Labour to clarify its position, tweeting: "Ed Miliband won't rule out a vote-by-vote deal with the SNP so he can be PM. It would mean more borrowing and more taxes and you would pay."
UKIP leader Nigel Farage suggested Ed Miliband could only gain power with the SNP's support, saying he was worried about the "Scottish tail wagging the English dog".
Economy

Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg has suggested either his party, the SNP, or UKIP will hold the balance of power after the election, warning about the dangers of what he characterised as a "coalition of grievance".
As the focus of the campaign returns to the economy, Mr Cameron will emphasise his government's record on job creation ahead of monthly figures expected to show a further increase in the number of people in employment - already at a record level.
The Conservatives say two million jobs have been created since 2010 and set a goal of a further two million by 2020.
The party has received a boost after IMF boss Christine Lagarde said the UK's economic strategy was "delivering results".
Speaking in Washington at a spring conference - also attended by Chancellor George Osborne - Ms Lagarde said that compared to the growth rates of other European countries "it's obvious what's happening in the UK has worked".
She suggested the UK had pursued the "right balance" of spending cuts and tax rises and forecast the deficit would continue to fall.

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[newbie2]

Why would Miliband really reply to such a stupid question from Cameron.

Cameron is desperate and knows that potentially the SNP holds the balance of power, it does though show all the inadequacies of our electoral system when a party that gets around single percentage points votes actually holds in the region of 40+ seats.

Proportional representation would address these in balance.

Anyway back to the point, Miliband would have nothing to gain by saying he will rule out a deal with the SNP and in fact failure to do so would most likely not see him as the next PM.

What he needs is a message going to Scotland etc that is along the lines of the previous vote SNP get conservatives, if he cosies up and agrees a deal then those saying they will vote SNP will have no reason to change as vote SNP becomes get labour.

When the vote is counted and seats know that is when the talking should start and I think Sturgeon knew that hence tried to attack last night.

I am sure Cameron is ready to do another deal with the Lib Dems but that most likely would not be enough so he is desperate to put pressure on ED.

I have over this last week more than any, really started to take a dislike to Cameron so whilst a conservative voter for many a year gone by, I can't really vote for this bloke anymore.

[piggzy]

Never particularly liked the Conservatives so to speak, but Cameron I feel has really ruined them and it might be along time to repair his damage. He is arrogant and misguided to say the least.