Clegg warns of second election
Party leaders are criss-crossing the country in a frenetic final round of campaigning ahead of Thursday's election - but Nick Clegg has warned that voters could be forced back to the polls before Christmas.
The Liberal Democrat leader warned that only a coalition involving his party could provide "stable" government after the May 7 vote.
Any attempt by the Conservatives or Labour to run a minority administration with the support of smaller parties such as Ukip or the Scottish National Party would be "a shambles" and would force voters back to the polls before the end of the year, he predicted.
Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg at Land's End in Cornwall
The Deputy Prime Minister's words came as David Cameron appeared to indicate that he was ready to seek a new coalition in the case of a hung parliament, telling a member of the public he would "always put the country first".
Meanwhile, shadow health secretary Andy Burnham said Labour would do "whatever we can" to put its agenda before Parliament in a Queen's Speech, prompting Tory claims that Ed Miliband's party would attempt to form a government even if it meant being propped up by the Scottish National Party.
In an apparent signal that he was open to a fresh coalition with Tories, Mr Clegg said that avoiding an in/out referendum on Britain's EU membership would not be a "red line" deal-breaker for Liberal Democrats in any coalition deals.
While both of the biggest parties insisted they were fighting for an absolute majority, the latest slew of polls continued to point towards a neck-and-neck finish and a hung parliament.
A daily YouGov poll for the Sun had Conservatives and Labour tied on 33%, Ukip on 12%, the Liberal Democrats 10% and the Greens 5%, while a separate Populus survey showed the two main parties deadlocked on 34%, with Ukip on 13%, Lib Dems 10% and Greens 5%.
Visiting Cardiff during a 1,000-mile two-day battlebus odyssey from Land's End to John O'Groats, Mr Clegg said: "Everybody knows that no one will win this election - even if David Cameron and Ed Miliband won't admit it publicly
"The Liberal Democrats have shown that coalitions can be strong and stable. But instead of creating stability, Labour and the Conservatives will create a shambles.
"The last thing Britain needs is a second election before Christmas. But that is exactly what will happen if Ed Miliband and David Cameron put their own political interest ahead of the national interest."
Mr Cameron set off on a non-stop 36-hour tour of the UK, which will see him talking to nightshift workers as he campaigns through the small hours, with a warning that a Labour government supported by the SNP would mean five years of "back-room deals, bribes, ransom notes, chaos".
Talking to staff at an internet firm in Hendon, north London, Mr Cameron was pressed over what he would do if he does not have an outright majority on Friday.
He replied by reminding his questioner of what he did in 2010: "I put the country first, I formed a coalition. I did what was right to give strong government for Britain. So I will always put the country first."
Appearing alongside London mayor Boris Johnson, Mr Cameron stressed that he still believes a Tory majority is possible, and batted away suggestions that Conservatives were encouraging supporters to vote tactically in some Liberal Democrat-Labour battlegrounds - such as Mr Clegg's Sheffield Hallam seat.
He said: "I have a very clear message for anyone in a Liberal Democrat-held seat ... and that is vote Conservative.
"Nick Clegg was very clear at the weekend he is just as likely to support an Ed Miliband-SNP government ... as he is to support the Conservatives."
SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon said Mr Cameron's election campaign had "descended into desperation", as she told voters they have "48 hours to get the Tories out". She insisted the SNP had shown in Holyrood that "minority government can be stable, successful and effective".
Mr Miliband highlighted figures which he said spelt out a "cash crisis made in Downing Street" which would mean most English hospitals having to cut staff, beds and services this year.
Labour analysis of leaked documents produced by NHS Providers, which represents trusts across the hospital, ambulance and mental health sector, show financial forecasts for 98 trusts project their combined deficit this year will reach £759 million - up from £250 million for the last financial year.
The party claims that equates to £1.86 billion across England's 240 trusts.
Mr Miliband said: " There is no bigger choice at this election for everyone in our country than the future facing our National Health Service.
"Right now, our NHS is in grave danger because David Cameron has broken his promises on the NHS."
But a Conservative spokesman said deficits were caused in part by decisions to hire more staff to avoid a repeat of hospital scandals such as Mid Staffs, and warned that by failing to commit to the £8 billion hike in spending requested by NHS chief executive Simon Stevens by 2020, Labour was " risking a repeat of the very tragedies that scarred the NHS when they were last in charge".
Labour campaign vice-chair Lucy Powell attracted Conservative scorn after suggesting that Mr Miliband carving his manifesto promises into an 8ft tall slab of limestone does not necessarily mean a Labour administration would keep to them.
Ms Powell told BBC Radio 5 Live that the Labour leader "stands by his pledges and his policies".
But she added: "I don't think anyone is suggesting that the fact that he's carved them into stone means, you know, that he will absolutely, you know, not going to break them or anything like that."
Conservative Party chairman Grant Shapps said: "Labour know Ed Miliband has no intention of keeping the promises he makes during the election campaign - his sums simply don't add up.
" £30,000-worth of limestone doesn't change the fact that Ed Miliband will say one thing and do another."
In later comments on Twitter, Ms Powell said: "Honestly, Tories and others desperately mis-quoting what I said. Anyone who heard the whole interview knows I said the opposite."
Prime Minister David Cameron will keep his focus on the potential outcomes of a hung parliament
