More budget cuts would be "morally unjustifiable and economically unsustainable", Scotland's First Minister has argued.
Nicola Sturgeon used a speech in London to claim the UK Government's economic policy had failed "categorically and comprehensively" and caused "misery" for some of the UK's most vulnerable people.
Speaking ahead of the General Election, where her party is predicted to make significant gains at the expense of Labour, Ms Sturgeon said she hopes Scotland can "exert a beneficial influence on developments" in London.
The Scottish Government will "make the case for a more rational economic policy at Westminster", Ms Sturgeon pledged, while adopting a different approach north of the border "based on partnership, fairness and prosperity".
The rejection of austerity by the SNP could cause problems for Labour seeking a power-sharing deal in the event of a hung parliament in May.
Ed Miliband has committed his party to "sensible" cuts to tackle the deficit.
The First Minister, addressing an audience at University College London, said she does not believe "any economic policy can be seen as a success when it has caused such severe anxiety and misery to so many of our most vulnerable citizens".
She added: "The current UK Government's economic policy has failed even on its own terms.
"It has failed to reduce the deficit as planned, and it has failed even more comprehensively to rebalance the economy.
"Economic policy is a means not an end; it is the means for citizens to lead happy, healthy, fulfilling lives.
"The entire focus of the Westminster debate is on the deficit.
"Now, the deficit is hugely important. But it is a symptom of economic difficulties, not just a cause of them.
"It's simply untrue to say that we are 'all in this together'.
"The cuts have had a disproportionate impact on women, people with disabilities and people on low incomes.
"The most vulnerable are bearing the heaviest burden. This human cost is in itself too high a price to pay for current policies."
And the First Minister argued: "The UK Government's economic policy has failed: categorically and comprehensively.
"But what the UK Government is now telling us is this: austerity hasn't worked, so we need even more of it.
"It is morally unjustifiable and economically unsustainable."
She also said: "After a momentous 12 months in Scotland, we will see a hugely significant 12 months across the whole of the UK. And I hope that Scotland can again exert a beneficial influence on developments here in London.
"So we will make the case for a more rational economic policy at Westminster, and we will use the powers we have in the Scottish Parliament to pursue a different approach; one based on partnership, fairness and prosperity."
A Liberal Democrat spokeswoman for Scottish Secretary Alistair Carmichael criticised Ms Sturgeon, saying: "All the bombast in the world will not change the reality that the UK Government's economic strategy is working."
Labour's shadow Scottish secretary Margaret Curran said: "Every vote for the SNP in May is another boost for David Cameron, and makes it more likely that he will be Prime Minister for another five years."
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