SNP coalition not part of Labour plans

Mr Balls and other senior figures within the party have come under increasing pressure to end speculation a pact may be on the cards, after polling suggesting the Scottish National Party is set to seize large numbers of seats from Labour north of the border.

Prime Minister David Cameron has said Ed Miliband should explicitly rule out a deal with the SNP “if he cares about this country”, and Tories have released a poster showing the Labour leader in the pocket of former SNP leader Alex Salmond.

Asked if he could categorically rule out a deal with the nationalists, Mr Balls said: “The SNP have said they don’t want a coalition. It’s not part of our plans. We don’t want one, we don’t need one, we’re not after one.

“No large party in the last 100 years - Labour or Conservative - has ever fought a general election on the basis they wanted a coalition or deal with a small party.

“It’s the last thing we want. What we want is a majority Labour government.”

SNP coalition not part of Labour plans - Ed Balls