Labour will try to form a minority government and rely on SNP votes to implement its policies in the event of a hung parliament, it said yesterday.

Although the party insisted that it would strike “no deals” with the Scottish Nationalists or others, it said that it would challenge them to help Labour or face explaining to their supporters why they were letting the Tories back into government.

After weeks of refusing to discuss its stance if there is an inconclusive result next Thursday, Emily Thornberry, the shadow foreign secretary, committed Labour to a minority government. She spoke as the prospect of a hung parliament grew more feasible, with polls showing the party gaining ground on the Conservatives.

Two YouGov surveys suggested that Labour was