Jim Murphy rules out a Labour-Conservative post-election coalition

Scottish Labour leader Jim Murphy has ruled out a Labour-Conservative coalition following May's general election.

Former Conservative chairman Lord Baker of Dorking had earlier suggested that Labour should form a coalition government with the Conservatives to prevent the SNP holding the balance of power.

Speaking to BBC Scotland's political editor Brian Taylor ahead of the party conference Mr Murphy said: "We don't need lessons from Tory dinosaurs about how to run Scotland. What a ludicrous idea."

Referring to the decision voters will be making at the ballot box, the East Renfrewshire MP said: "The biggest party forms the government. It's a fact of political life and in this election it's either Labour versus Tory".