John Major backs Cameron amid accuations of English nationalism
Former Prime Minister Sir John Major has voiced support for David Cameron, warning that a Labour-SNP coalition could destabilise the UK's economic recovery and leave Labour leader Ed Miliband open to manipulation and "political blackmail".
Speaking in the West Midlands, he said: “At the very moment our country needs a strong and stable government, we risk a weak and unstable one. There is a simple choice to make: do you vote for the party that presided over economic chaos: or the party that has led us out of it?”
At the very moment our country needs a strong and stable government, we risk a weak and unstable one.
Major's intervention is likely to carry weight, not only due to his respected status, but because the message is consistent with the Conservative's campaign message that a vote for any other party would cause economic havoc.
However, other senior MPs have spoken out against David Cameron, accusing him of jeapordising the UK by stirring up English nationalism in the wake of the Scottish referendum.
Former chancellor Alistair Darling and former cabinet minister Lord Forsyth of Drumlean accused Cameron of building up the threat of the SNP in order to damage Labour's hold in Scotland.
"This is all part of the Tory tactic of 'bigging up' the SNP because they are failing to make progress on anything they’ve got to say,” said Darling.
Ed Miliband has maintained that he will not consider a formal coalition with the SNP and would only work with the party of a vote-by-vote basis.