Alex Salmond’s verdict on the debates

Alex Salmond has given his verdict on Nicola Sturgeon’s performance in the debates last night.

The former First Minister said his successor’s appearance was a “great boost” for the SNP campaign, and that he thinks she is “wiping the floor with the Westminster old boys’ network.”

Earlier today Michal Gove, the Conservative chief whip, said a coaltion between Labour and the SNP would be a “lethal cocktail” that would destabilise the country and undermine the economic recovery

Mr Salmond responded: “I think Michael Gove is showing all the signs of panic and the distress that the Prime Minister was showing in the debate last night when he was hammered by Nicola Sturgeon.”

Last month the Conservatives mocked up a photograph of Ed Miliband sitting the the shirt pocket of Alex Salmond, an attempt to imply that a Labour government would be subject to the whim of Scotland in any power sharing deal. After the debate the conservatives mocked up a similar poster featuring Nicola Sturgeon.

Ed Miliband has said that Labour will not go into a formal coalition with the SNP.