BBC debate: Miliband and Sturgeon clash over post-election deal

Ed Miliband has clashed with SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon after she said she would only support him as PM if he showed he was "better than the Tories".

She said she wanted a "progressive" alliance with Plaid Cymru's Leanne Wood and the Green Party's Natalie Bennett.
Mr Miliband, Labour leader, said he wanted to win a majority and would not form a coalition with the SNP.
UKIP leader Nigel Farage also clashed with Mr Miliband on the economy and immigration in the BBC election debate.

• You can watch the debate reaction and follow text commentary here

Prime Minister David Cameron and Lib Dem Deputy Prime Minister Mr Clegg did not take part.

Media caption Labour leader Ed Miliband: "This coalition government has become an excuse for broken promises"

The debate finished with Mr Miliband issuing a direct challenge to Mr Cameron to take part in a debate with him, telling him: "If you believe this election is about leadership then debate me one-to-one."
During the 90-minute programme the Labour leader faced repeated calls from Nicola Sturgeon and Leanne Wood to reject austerity and form a "progressive" alliance with their parties to keep the Conservatives out of government.
Ms Sturgeon claimed he was "so scared to be bold" that he was "not even doing the right thing by the NHS", telling the audience that "if Labour won't be bold enough on its own, I think people should vote for parties that will hold Labour to account and make them bolder".

Media caption Nicola Sturgeon, SNP: 'Labour not bold enough'

As the debate reached its climax, Mr Miliband was asked whether he would form a coalition with the SNP. He told Ms Sturgeon he had "fundamental disagreements" with her over her support for Scottish independence, adding: "It's a 'no', I'm afraid."
Ms Sturgeon said this election was about "seizing an alternative to austerity" and asked Mr Miliband whether he would really prefer David Cameron as prime minister than to work with the SNP.
"The difference is I have fought Tories all my life," said Mr Miliband, a reference to the SNP's reliance on Conservative support when they were a minority government at Holyrood.

'Astonishing'

Nigel Farage set his stall out early as being against the "politically correct" consensus - but he riled the audience at London's Methodist Central Hall, saying they were remarkable "even by the left-wing standards of the BBC".
Amid boos from the hall, host David Dimbleby said the audience had been selected by a polling company, not the corporation.

Media caption UKIP's Nigel Farage accused the BBC election debate audience of being "left-wing"

The UKIP leader then clashed with Ms Sturgeon over immigration.
"Just astonishing," said Mr Farage in response to the SNP leader's assertion that not all problems in the UK are caused by immigration.
"Yes you are," replied Ms Sturgeon.

'Real alternative'

Mr Farage also repeated his claim that the NHS was spending too much on treating foreign nationals with HIV, saying most people in Britain would agree with him and the NHS should not be an "international health service".
The UKIP leader was accused by Ms Bennett of "demonising" migrants and by Ms Sturgeon of "intolerance". Mr Miliband also accused him of "exploiting people's fears".
He then claimed Mr Farage's real agenda was to get rid of the NHS and replace it with a private health insurance - which sparked a furious reaction from the UKIP leader, who repeatedly accused Mr Miliband of "lying" about his beliefs.
Plaid Cymru leader Leanne Wood challenged Mr Miliband to hold an "emergency budget" to end austerity if he becomes prime minister, but Mr Miliband did not rise to the bait, insisting Labour had plans that would help working families.
In his opening statement Mr Farage had said UKIP could cut taxes as part of a fully-costed economic plan and was the only party "prepared to talk straight" and not afraid to upset the "politically correct" consensus.
Leanne Wood was the first party leader to make an opening statement, telling the audience at London's Methodist Central Hall there was an alternative to the "austerity myth" and that Plaid Cymru MPs would work with other "progressive" parties to bring it about.

Media caption Plaid Cymru's Leanne Wood: "Continuing on the path of austerity will deliver a very uncertain future for the next generation"

In his opening statement, Ed Miliband began with an attack on David Cameron who he said had "chosen not to come tonight to defend his record". He said Labour would defend the NHS, with more doctors and nurses - and stand up for working families.
He was followed by Nicola Sturgeon, who said the SNP wanted to be a voice for Scotland but also a "new progressive politics at Westminster to benefit everyone" in the UK, by "working with other like-minded parties to bring about an alternative to austerity".
The Green Party's Natalie Bennett was the last to give an opening statement, telling the audience the Green Party were the "real challengers" offering an alternative to austerity and fighting against fracking.

Media caption Natalie Bennett: 'Get back houses as homes not assets'

Earlier this month, the five party leaders - together with Mr Cameron and Mr Clegg - clashed in the first televised debate of the 2015 election. That followed a live question and answer programme in which the prime minister and Mr Miliband appeared separately.
There will also be a special Question Time on BBC One, a week before polling day, with Mr Cameron, Mr Miliband and Mr Clegg appearing separately on the programme to answer questions from a studio audience.
Mr Clegg said he had been "denied the opportunity" to speak in Friday's debate because David Cameron had not wanted to take part. Mr Cameron agreed to do one TV debate with six other party leaders, which took place last month.
It was decided that this debate would be for party leaders that were not in government, meaning Mr Clegg was not offered a place on the podium.

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Mr Cameron said this evening's debate was "part of the deal that was done to unblock the log-jam about TV debates" and he was "delighted that I played a role unblocking that log-jam". He said all participants in it were arguing to "abandon the plan that has turned this country around and has got us more jobs, more livelihoods and more business".
Responding to Mr Clegg's complaint, a BBC spokesman said broadcasters had worked hard to ensure "that their audiences were offered the best possible combination of programmes to help them engage with the election, to inform them about the issues and to scrutinise the politicians".
He added that the BBC was "satisfied" that its range of election programmes met the obligation to provide "due impartiality" and all relevant parties had the chance to put their case.
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