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THE Tories were accused of desperation yesterday after wheeling out ex-PM John Major to fearmonger over a potential pact between Labour and the SNP.
Mr Major, under whose leadership the Tories suffered a crushing defeat in 1997, said that the SNP would subject Labour to “a daily dose of political blackmail” if it was kingmaker after the general election.
“They will ask for the impossible and create merry hell if it is denied,” he said.
The leaders of both parties have ruled out a formal coalition, but Labour’s waning support north of the border means it would likely be forced to rely on the SNP to pass votes in Parliament.
But Labour leader Ed Miliband accused Tory PM David Cameron of “playing fast and loose with the United Kingdom” in talking up the SNP’s prospects.
“I think David Cameron is now threatening the integrity of the UK with the games he is playing,” said Mr Miliband. “And I think Conservatives are now ashamed of what he is doing.”
Labour shadow cabinet office minister Jon Trickett accused Mr Major of being yesterday’s man.
“He’s part of a succession of Tory leaders who showed no interest in Scotland for 30 years,” said Mr Trickett.
SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon said that Mr Major’s comments were “silly — over the top.”
And even Tory veteran Norman Tebbit spoke out, saying his former Cabinet colleague’s intervention was puzzling.
“It’s pointless to irritate Scots just by shouting at them from Westminster,” he said.
