Secretary of State for Scotland Jim Murphy today condemned the SNP bid to put Cameron and Osborne into Downing Street.

Commenting on remarks by Alex Salmond and Nicola Sturgeon regarding their preferred outcome of the general election, Jim Murphy MP said:

"The mask has slipped.

"Nicola Sturgeon has admitted the SNP wants a Tory government to be elected at the next election. This is a disastrous mistake and the SNP will be punished for it.

"This is a betrayal of Scotland. Cameron's Tory party is committed to an attack on public sector workers pay and pensions. And they want to rob hard-working Scots in their fifties of hard-earned pensions. No wonder they're less popular than Thatcher ever was.

"Nicola Sturgeon needs to come out and tell the people who she wants the largest party in Westminster to be.

"Labour's campaign - Vote SNP, Get Tory - will put this issue centre stage between now and the General Election.

"Scotland will never forgive the SNP for trying to put the Tories back in power."

Labour MP for Stirling Anne McGuire said:

"The Tartan Tories are back. Everyone remembers what they did in 1979 to get the Tories into office. Now they are preparing to do the same again. Scotland will not be fooled."

11 October 2009