article: Ed Miliband has been 'bullied' by the Conservatives into ruling out a coalition deal between the SNP and Labour, SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon claimed tonight. Scotland's First Minister said the Labour leader had allowed himself to be 'kicked around' by the Tories and called on him to be 'tougher' and 'bolder'. With polls suggesting no one party will have a majority after May 7 and support for the SNP hitting a record high, the Conservatives have ramped up warnings about a post-election deal between Labour and the Scottish nationalists. Scotland's First Minister, appearing on Newsnight tonight, said the Labour leader had allowed himself to be 'kicked around' by the Tories and called on him to be 'tougher' and 'bolder' She told Evan Davis that Ed Miliband had been 'bullied' by the Conservatives into ruling out a coalition deal . Labour leader Mr Miliband insisted at the weekend that he is 'not interested in deals' with the SNP. In the latest of BBC1's series of leader interviews with Evan Davis, Ms Sturgeon said Westminster politicians were in danger of being 'insulting' to Scottish voters. She said: 'I've not ruled anything out here, I've always said a coalition with Labour is highly unlikely, Ed Miliband has since said the same because he's been sort of bullied by the Tories to rule these things out.' The SNP leader said she had not ruled out a confidence and supply deal between the two parties. When it was put to her that Mr Miliband had, she said: 'I think what he says the morning after the election will probably be different to what he says now. 'He's in an election campaign, he's trying to cling to the pretence that he is going to get a majority. Everyone else knows that's not looking likely. 'But what I am saying is I think a vote-by-vote arrangement is both most likely and probably the way in which a big team of SNP MPs can wield maximum influence for Scotland's benefit.' The SNP have soared in the polls to a record 54 per cent - while Labour have seen their support cut in half since 2010 . Labour Party leader Ed Miliband delivers a speech at The ARC Theatre & Arts Centre in Stockton-on-Tees today . Commenting further on Mr Miliband, she added: 'I think he should be a bit tougher in not being kicked around so much by the Tories. 'I think he should be bolder in saying that he will respect the wishes of voters because there is a more fundamental point than just how people in Scotland vote.' A Conservative spokesman said Ms Sturgeon's interview exposed the threat posed by the SNP. He said: 'Nicola Sturgeon has confirmed that she now has Ed Miliband wrapped around her little finger - and will use SNP MPs to 'wield maximum influence for Scotland's benefit'. That means more debt, higher taxes, unlimited welfare handouts and weaker defence - so we'll all pay. The only way to stop this happening is to vote Conservative on May 7th.'
highlights: SNP leader said Ed Miliband had allowed himself to be 'kicked around'
  The Scottish First Minister said the Labour leader needed to be 'bolder'
  She said he had been pushed into ruling out a deal with the SNP by the PM .
  Ms Sturgeon said the Labour leader would change his mind after May 7 .
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