Ed Miliband accuses David Cameron of ‘threatening the integrity of the UK’ over SNP

Ed Miliband has accused David Cameron of “threatening the integrity of the United Kingdom” by talking up the prospects of Scottish nationalists in the General Election.

The Conservatives were stepping up their campaign on the dangers of nationalist influence in the new Parliament by deploying former prime minister Sir John Major to deliver a stark warning that a minority Labour government propped up by SNP votes would be a “recipe for mayhem”.

With 16 days to polling on May 7, Sir John will say that a Labour-SNP administration would lead to “weak and unstable” government and wreck Britain’s economic recovery.

He will use a speech in the Midlands to paint a picture of an Ed Miliband government subjected to a “daily dose of blackmail” by the nationalists who could bring him down whenever they wanted.

But Mr Miliband insisted there would be no coalition with the SNP and denied Nicola Sturgeon’s party would hold the whip hand on policy, telling BBC1’s Breakfast: “A Labour government led by me, what happens in that Labour government will be decided by me, not by the SNP.”

Labour had “fundamental differences” with the SNP, such as the nationalist party’s desire for a second independence referendum within five years, he said, adding: “I’m not having that.”

Mr Miliband said Mr Cameron had been “talking up” the SNP in the hope that it would take votes and seats from Labour north of the border and allow him to “crawl back” into 10 Downing Street.

“I think David Cameron is playing fast and loose with the United Kingdom,” said the Labour leader. “This is somebody who has given up hope of winning a majority. He is trying to boost the SNP.

“I think David Cameron is now threatening the integrity of the UK with the games he is playing. And I think Conservatives are now ashamed of what he is doing.”

Mr Miliband cited Conservative former Cabinet minister Lord Forsyth who has warned that the party’s tactic of targeting a Labour-SNP link-up was “short-term and dangerous” and could ultimately damage the Union.