Recent polls show that the SNP has “become the national party of Scotland in all senses”, Nicola Sturgeon said as she joined Alex Salmond on the campaign trail.
The SNP leader was with her former boss in Inverurie, in the Gordon constituency, where Mr Salmond is standing for a return to Westminster in a seat currently held by the Liberal Democrats.
In light of a much-praised performance in the second televised UK leaders debate and recent polls which indicate further SNP gains across Scotland, Ms Sturgeon said there was still “a lot of hard work to be done”.
The First Minister said: “In this election Scotland has an opportunity like never before to make its voice heard at Westminster, but it is clear that the only party who can be that voice is the SNP.
“Polling shows that the SNP has become the national party of Scotland in all senses – leading in the polls across all areas and demographics of Scottish society.”
She added: “Above all they are putting their trust in us to lock the Tories out of Downing Street.
“The real question for Ed Miliband and Jim Murphy is whether they would rather see David Cameron back in Downing Street than work with the SNP to lock the Tories out of government. That remains the big question hanging over the Labour campaign in Scotland.”
Mr Salmond said: “Nicola Sturgeon is a first-class First Minister for Scotland and polling after Thursday’s debate shows she was not just considered to have performed best by voters in Scotland but across the UK as well.
“The SNP always has and always will work to make Scotland stronger and better and a SNP vote in this election will be a vote to make Scotland’s voice heard – loudly and clearly.
“Ours will be a voice for a new, better and more progressive politics at Westminster – for everyone across these islands.”
Earlier today, Mr Salmond stepped up the pressure on Labour leader Ed Miliband with a fresh warning that he will find it difficult to avoid doing some form of deal with the SNP in the event of another hung parliament.
The former SNP leader said all parties would have to face up to the “electorate’s judgment” after polling day on May 7 and that Mr Miliband had been “foolish” to rule out a coalition with the SNP – even though it was not really on the cards.
He told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme: “I think that after the election every Westminster politician will have to come and face the reality of the electorate’s judgement.
“There is no disrespect or disgrace in any politician coming to terms with the democratically expressed position of the electorate.
“All politicians, those of us who are lucky enough to be elected, chosen by the people, will try to do their best as they see it in the interests of the people who elected them.”