Nicola Sturgeon today said she would rather see Labour than the “detested” Tories in power.
Scotland’s First Minister spoke out after Tory No10 sources claimed there could be a “monstrous coalition” of the SNP and Labour after the next election.
But Ms Sturgeon also demanded a more “radical alternative” from Keir Starmer and said neither he nor Liz Truss were “good enough”.
Meanwhile Labour frontbencher Jon Ashworth said claims of a coalition were “complete and utter nonsense and desperate”.
Keir Starmer has already said “we won’t work with them” and there will be “no deal under any circumstances”.
Current polls are also tipping Labour for an outright majority in Westminster - meaning a deal with the SNP wouldn’t be needed to stay in power.
SNP leader Ms Sturgeon was asked by the BBC ’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg who she would rather see as PM, Starmer or Truss.
She replied: “If the question to me is would I prefer a Labour government over a Tory government?
“I detest the Tories and everything they stand for. So it's not difficult to answer that question. Yes.”
But she added: “Being better than the Tories is not a high bar to cross right now.
“I think we need to see more of a radical alternative from Labour rather than just a pale imitation.
“And if you're asking me do I think either a Westminster Tory government or a Westminster Labour Government is good enough for Scotland, then my answer to that question is no.”
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Nadhim Zahawi hit back at her “detest” comment, saying: "I think that language is really dangerous.
"I prefer to work with my colleagues in Scotland on delivering the freeports, the greenports, as I want to do with (Deputy First Minister) John Swinney and others."
A series of pollsters have all given their biggest-ever leads to Labour in the last week, with YouGov’s peaking at 33 points.
A No10 source used the yawning lead as a bid to get rebel Tories in line.
The source told the Sunday Telegraph: "Get behind Liz or get the monstrous coalition of Labour and the SNP, that's the cold hard reality of this.
“The PM has the right plan to get our economy growing again, end years of drift and win in 2024, but she needs time and the full backing of the Party.”
But Shadow Cabinet member Mr Ashworth denied there’d be a coalition, telling Times Radio: “The latest set of opinion polls do not suggest that whatsoever”.
“We are campaigning for a majority Labour government. That is our aim, that is our plan.”
Meanwhile Ms Sturgeon was accused of backing away from her bid to hold a second Scottish independence referendum on October 19 next year.
Asked by the BBC if she was confident that will happen, she said carefully: "Yes, I am confident that can happen."
She has asked the Supreme Court to rule on whether her government can hold a non-binding referendum without needing the Prime Minister's permission.
Ms Sturgeon added today: “Let's wait and see what the court says. I am confident Scotland is going to become independent."
The court will hear arguments this week after a referral from the Lord Advocate on a prospective Bill legislating for a referendum.
Speaking as the SNP conference continued in Aberdeen, Ms Sturgeon hit out at the UK Government's continuing opposition to granting another vote.
"I believe very firmly - and I think this is a bit of an iron law of politics - if the other side of this debate really believed people in Scotland didn't want a referendum and if they really believed that people in Scotland would vote against independence, they'd be the ones clamouring for a referendum," the First Minister said.
When asked if it is possible the UK Government wants to avoid the "disruption" that would stem from a referendum, the First Minister said: "Disruption? Perish the thought we would have disruption in people's lives right now.
"The disruption that people are suffering right now are coming from decisions that have been imposed on Scotland against our will."
