Sir Keir Starmer said the path to a Labour victory “must run through Scotland” as he once again ruled out a deal with the SNP to win a majority at the next general election.

Delivering a keynote speech at the Scottish Labour conference in Edinburgh, the Opposition leader said his party “must accept that for many Scots they look at Tory Britain and conclude the way out is the way forward”.

However, Sir Keir said the SNP are not in a position “to give the Tories any lectures on political responsibility”.

“Over 15 years in power and what do they have show for it? It’s always somebody else’s fault. And the reason is simple.

“They’re not truly invested in Scotland’s success. Anything Scotland achieves within the UK is met with gritted teeth, seen as a roadblock to the one true goal.”

Sir Keir said it is for this reason that whoever replaces outgoing First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, Labour would not make a deal with them at the next election.

“Whatever happens in the coming months, my message is the same. No deal under any circumstances.”

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Addressing Scottish voters who “have given up on Labour”, Sir Keir acknowledged that the case for the union “has always rested on the solidarity of working people pushing Britain forward” and said that case “is becoming harder to make” because of issues like the cost of living crisis.

He said Labour would build a “new Britain” where “working people are given a chance to succeed”.

In a pitch to SNP voters he said: “I want to be prime minister for the UK, not just prime minister of the UK and that’s why I’ve always said the path to a Labour victory must run through Scotland.”

The Labour leader urged party members to reach across the aisle following the events of last week.

“Reach out to people who are looking at politics with a fresh pair of eyes uncertain about what the future holds for Scotland,” he told members.

“And let us speak to them with one voice – let’s say, we know that Scotland needs change, we know our economy needs to work better for working people, that our public services need to be fixed, that climate change needs bold action, and that our political system needs a total overhaul, with communities finally in the driving seat.

“None of this – we believe – can be achieved through more division.

“But if you place your faith in Labour, this is the change we offer to you.”

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