VOTERS could leave David Cameron in power at Downing Street if they back any party other than Labour in the forthcoming general election, Jim Murphy will warn.

The new Scottish Labour leader will use his first speech of the year today to say that voting for the nationalists in the Westminster elections in May will not bring about a "kaleidoscope-coalition" where the SNP, Plaid Cymru and the Green Party could all play a part.

Instead he will claim an increase in support for the SNP could leave Conservative leader Mr Cameron as the "accidental victor" leading another "true-blue Tory government" if Labour is denied a majority.

As many of those who voted for independence in the referendum "wanted rid of the Tories", he will claim it "would be a cruel irony if a vote for the SNP delivered a Tory government".

Labour won 41 seats in Scotland in the last general election, and despite the SNP leading in the opinion polls, Mr Murphy has said his party can retain all of these this May - with success in this vital to Ed Miliband's bid to become prime minister in just four months time.