Ed Miliband was keen during the BBC TV debate to make clear to voters that he was not a fan of the SNP.
Conservative attack ads have warned of a "coalition of chaos" that would see former SNP leader and prospective MP Alex Salmond pulling Miliband's strings if Labour wins power.
Miliband used the debate to try to dispel this image, telling SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon: "I've got fundamental disagreements with you, Nicola.
"Because in the last couple of weeks, you've revealed that you haven't ruled out having a second referendum on independence in the next five years.
"We've just got very different views. I mean, I respect your view that you want to break up the country, but that's not my view. I think that would be a disaster for the working people of Britain."
He directly ruled out a "coalition" with the SNP. But significantly, he appeared to leave the door open to a looser "confidence and supply" arrangement.
Sturgeon hit back and urged him to join forces with the SNP to keep David Cameron out of power.
She insisted the question of independence was "for the referendum last year" and that the general election was about getting rid of the Tories.
She said: "What I'm saying is – I can help Labour be bolder, to deliver the change that we really need because that's what this election is about.
"For me, it's about making Scotland's voice heard, but secondly, it's about delivering real change for people right across this country. Don't turn your back on that, Ed, and let David Cameron back into government.
"If we work together, we can lock David Cameron out of Downing Street."
This summed up the exchange quite nicely.
Miliband swiping left on Tinder, Sturgeon swiping right #BBCDebate