General Election 2015: Cameron calls on Lib Dem and Ukip supporters to vote tactically to block Labour-SNP coalition
The Prime Minister said that Nicola Sturgeon would insist on more taxes and borrowing in any deal with Labour
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.David Cameron has asked the electorate to embrace tactical voting to block a Labour government backed by the SNP from taking power.
The Prime Minister urged Liberal Democrat and Ukip supporters not to “waste” their vote and instead back the Conservatives, if they did not want to see Ed Miliband win the election.
“Vote for Ukip or the Liberal Democrats and you take Ed Miliband and Nicola Sturgeon a step closer to Downing Street - and our government, economy and country a step closer to chaos,” the Tory leader wrote in the Sunday Times.
He described Nicola Sturgeon, the popular SNP leader, as a “hostage-taker" who would demand “more borrowing, more taxes and more welfare”.
Mr Cameron’s appeal comes less than three weeks to go until the election, as the Conservatives struggle in the polls and a hung parliament looks the most likely outcome.
While the Prime Minister did not use the phrase “tactical voting”, it appears that the party leadership is aware that it is failing to make headway in the campaign and needs the support from other party supporters.
Coalition partner Vince Cable, the Business Secretary, dismissed Mr Cameron's tactical voting call as “dangerous nonsense”.
Mr Cable confirmed the widely-held view that the Conservatives would be unable to win an overall majority at the election and said the Prime Minister would have to rely on the support of Ukip and “30 or 40 maverick Tory MPs”.
“These are people who hate his guts,” the cabinet minister told the Andrew Marr Show.
The Independent has got together with May2015.com to produce a poll of polls that produces the most up-to-date data in as close to real time as is possible.
Click the buttons below to explore how the main parties' fortunes have changed:
All data, polls and graphics are courtesy of May2015.com. Click through for daily analysis, in-depth features and all the data you need. (All historical data used is provided by UK Polling Report)
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments