text: Alex Salmond has stepped up the pressure on Ed Miliband saying he won't be able to avoid a deal with the SNP and was 'foolish' to rule out a coalition . Alex Salmond has stepped up the pressure on Ed Miliband saying he won't be able to avoid a deal with the SNP and was 'foolish' to rule out a coalition. The former SNP leader, who is bidding to return to Westminster, said the Labour leader would find it difficult to avoid doing a deal with the Scottish nationalists in the event of  hung parliament. When questioned about a potential coalition with Labour, he suggested Mr Miliband had only rejected the idea because he was 'under pressure from the Conservative press'. He said all parties would have to face up to the 'electorate's judgment' after polling day on May 7. 'There is no disrespect or disgrace in any politician coming to terms with the democratically expressed position of the electorate,' 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 judgment,' This comes after SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon warned Mr Miliband he would not be forgiven if he allowed David Cameron back into Downing Street because he was unwilling to do a deal with the SNP. During Thursday night's TV debate, she said: 'I can help Labour be bolder … take the chance to kick David Cameron out of Downing Street. Don't turn your back on it - people will never forgive you. 'It's about delivering real change – not pretend change – real change for people right across this country. Is it the case that you would rather see David Cameron go back into Downing Street than work with the SNP? Surely that cannot be your position.' The Tory Party has just released a campaign poster depicting Ms Sturgeon 'pulling the strings' in the event of a deal between her party and Labour. The billboard depicts Sturgeon as a puppeteer and Miliband as a dummy, with the words 'more taxes, more borrowing, more debt.' underneath. The former SNP leader told Mr Miliband he would find it difficult to avoid doing a deal with the Scottish nationalists in the event of hung parliament, pictured is the Labour leader today on the campaign trail . The Tory Party has just released a campaign poster depicting Ms Sturgeon 'pulling the strings' in the event of a deal between her party and Labour . Speaking at the poster's launch, party chairman Grant Shapps  said: 'Labour are collapsing in Scotland. This means the only way that Ed Miliband might crawl through the gates of No10 now is if he's carried there by the SNP. 'Nicola Sturgeon would pull the strings and demand weaker defences, more spending and unaffordable welfare hand-outs. It would be a disaster for taxpayers.' Labour has insisted that it will not need SNP votes to govern - rejecting Conservative claims that Mr Miliband would be a prisoner of the nationalists if he entered Number 10. Mr Salmond also made clear that SNP MPs at Westminster would be prepared to vote on England-only issues - such as health and education where power has been devolved to the Scottish Parliament - if they impact on Scotland. During Thursday night's TV debate, Ms Sturgeon said: 'I can help Labour be bolder' pictured with Mr Salmond . SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon (pictured) warned Mr Miliband he would not be forgiven if he allowed David Cameron back into Downing Street . 'The vast majority of votes have an economic impact,' he said. 'When I was a Member of Parliament before I voted against foundation hospitals in England because I thought it would lead to the fragmentation of the health service and then have effects in Scotland. I voted against tuition fees for English students in England. 'It is not English-only legislation, if it has an economic impact it has an impact on Scotland.' He indicated that the SNP could use their votes to try to change the Budget of the next government. 'I don't think there is a single Member of Parliament or a single political party who wouldn't wish to be in a position and have an effect and influence for the betterment of their own constituents and, indeed, the betterment of politics across these islands,' he said.
target: Alex Salmond said Ed Miliband would find it difficult to avoid an SNP deal .
  Former SNP leader also said Miliband was 'foolish' to rule out coalition .
  He said all parties would have to face up to the 'electorate's judgment'
  Nicola Sturgeon warned Miliband not to allow Cameron back into power .