STEWART PATERSON

Political Correspondent

LABOUR and the SNP have both ruled out any coalition at Westminster in the event of a hung parliament.

Nicola Sturgeon said there would be no formal coalitions but would consider a “progressive alliance” on a case-by-case basis.

Kezia Dugdale went further and said there would be no deals at all with the SNP.

If the narrowing of the gap in the polls between the Conservatives and Labour is real and continues there could be no overall majority and other parties could potentially unite to prevent Theresa May being Prime Minister.

The latest polls show Labour under Jeremy Corbyn gaining ground on Theresa May’s Conservatives.

A poll by Ipsos/Mori has the Tories on 45% down four points and Labour on 40% up six points.

Ms Sturgeon said she still expected the Tories to win the election.

She said: “If there was to be a hung parliament, if the parliamentary arithmetic allowed it, then I would want the SNP to be part of a progressive alternative to a Conservative government.

“Not in a coalition, I don’t envisage any formal coalitions, but on an issue-by-issue basis to put forward progressive policies and to see a progressive agenda.”

Ms Dugdale however said there would be no pact between the two parties.

She said: “No ifs, no buts, there will be no deals with the SNP. Jeremy Corbyn and I could not be clearer, we are not doing deals, we’re not doing coalitions, we’re not doing any agreements with the Nationalists.”

She dismissed talk of a ‘progressive alliance’ stating the parties are not united on the key issues.

She said: “There is nothing progressive about the SNP, which talks Left in Westminster but acts Right in government in Holyrood. Nicola Sturgeon wants to break-up the United Kingdom and inflict further austerity on working families across Scotland – that is not progressive.

“Labour will never support independence and is firmly opposed to an unwanted and unnecessary second independence referendum.”

The prospect of Labour doing a deal with the SNP was talked up in 2015 successfully suggesting a Labour Minority under Ed Miliband would be propped up by the SNP.

The Conservatives are adopting the same tactic as the likelihood of a hung parliament becomes realistic once more.

Even though Labour has said it won’t happen and the SNP have said no to a coalition, senior Tories still argue it is a threat.

David Gauke, chief secretary to the Treasury, said: “This admission from Nicola Sturgeon underlines the very real risk that Jeremy Corbyn could be prime minister next Friday, propped up by the SNP and in charge both of Brexit and our economic security.”