Voting SNP risks returning David Cameron to Downing Street, Ed Miliband has warned, as he sought to frame the General Election as a straight fight between Labour and the Conservatives.

 

The Labour leader sidestepped questions about a possible deal with the SNP if Nicola Sturgeon's party holds the balance of power after May 7, saying he was focused on winning a majority.

Mr Miliband also spoke of his determination to share the UK's wealth more fairly, as Labour faced fresh accusations from the Nationalists of abandoning its commitment to social justice.

Mr Miliband stepped up his attacks on the SNP as he joined Scots party leader Jim Murphy and Shadow Scots Secretary Margaret Curran for a campaign visit to a building trades training centre in the east end of Glasgow.

The visit came as polls continue to show Labour trailing the SNP by around 20 per centage points in the polls, putting all but a handful of its 41 Scottish seats in danger.

Ms Sturgeon has set her party the goal of winning more seats than Labour north of the Border.

If the Nationalists hold the balance of power they will demand full fiscal autonomy for Scotland, an end to Britain's nuclear deterrent and a reversal of austerity measures.

Mr Miliband said votes in Scotland would have an "important impact" on the outcome of the election.

But he added: "If you want change and you want this Tory government out, the only way to make that happen is to vote Labour.

"A vote for any other party is a risk you don't see the end of a Tory government.

"I do want to make that absolutely clear to people, because the Scottish people have shown time after time their desire to get rid of David Cameron and his government, and there is only one way to do it."

Labour could be left with as few as four seats according to some poll analyses, but the Labour leader said he was "determined" to retain all his party's Scots MPs.

"Is there a fight on? Of course there is a fight on. There is a fight on right across the United Kingdom in this general election. Scotland will have an important impact on this general election," he said.

Shadow Chancellor Ed Balls this week appeared to rule out a possible power-sharing deal between Labour and the SNP if his party fails to win an outright majority.

Mr Miliband refused to rule out such a deal but said: "I have only one focus, which is a majority Labour government.

"I'm going to put before the British people a manifesto, there will be a separate and distinct Scottish manifesto, which I think is important, and then I will say to people 'I want you to elect a majority Labour government'.

"I couldn't be clearer - I think Jim (Murphy) has said we don't need, we don't want and we're not planning for that, and that is my position too."

Mr Miliband highlighted Labour's pledge to impose a mansion tax on people living in homes worth over £2million, with revenues contributing to a £2.5billion investment in health.

Citing the example of a £300million house on sale in London, he added: "The case is getting stronger and stronger by the day."

He said sharing wealth around the country "makes the UK strong and makes the Labour Party what it is".

The SNP used a party political broadcast last night to portray Labour and the Conservatives as offering the same choice for Scots voters.

Ms Sturgeon said: "Never has it been more vital to make Scotland's voice heard loudly and clearly in Westminster.

"Time was Labour used to stand up to the Tories, but now it seems they're joined at the hip.

"They campaigned together in Scotland's referendum.

"The fact is, only the SNP will force Westminster to listen to the people of Scotland."

Bookmakers William Hill said the SNP, which has six seat at present, was likely to emerge from the election as a bigger force at Westminster than the Lib Dems, who have 57 seats.

The bookie installed Nicola Sturgeon's Party as 4/7 favourites to come out ahead.