The SNP would prop up a Labour minority government to keep the Tories out of power if voters return a hung parliament on June 8, Nicolas Sturgeon has said.

The leader of the SNP said her party would be open to forming a “progressive alternative to the Tories” if no single party secures a majority at the General Election.

Ms Sturgeon’s comments came after Emily Thornberry, the shadow foreign secretary, said a minority Labour administration led by Jeremy Corbyn would put forward a Queen’s Speech outlining its plans and then challenge other parties to back it in order to stop the Conservatives returning to government.

Ms Sturgeon said she is "sceptical" about the likelihood of a hung parliament as she predicted that Theresa May will win next week’s election even though the Tories’ poll lead over Labour has continued to shrink.