Sturgeon: I will lead coalition deal negotiations

Nicola Sturgeon says it would be her - rather than her predecessor, Alex Salmond, or the SNP's leader in Westminster, Angus Robertson - who would lead any coalition negotiations after an inconclusive election result, despite not standing for a seat in the House of Commons.

She told the Daily Mail: "I'll be there. I'm the leader of the SNP, I'll be in charge of any decisions and negotiations and anything that happens after 7th May."

Ms Sturgeon also indicated that a second independence referendum for Scotland could be triggered if the UK votes to leave the EU in 2017.

She said a "substantive change in circumstances" would be needed to re-run the poll, adding: "If there was a vote that ended up taking Scotland out (of the EU) against our will - that's the only concrete example."