Lib Dems: We won't rule out coalition in hung parliament

Published on Monday 15 February 2010 21:44

THE Liberal Democrats have played down reports that they will not enter a coalition government with either of the two main parties in the event of a hung parliament.

Senior party members insisted they are still undecided about their options, countering suggestions that they had abandoned thoughts of a formal political agreement in favour of winning support for key Liberal Democrat policies.

The "shopping list" of demands was said to include electoral reform – including a fully elected House of Lords – tax rises for the rich and a rebalancing of the UK economy towards renewables and away from a reliance on financial services.

The party's hierarchy was reported to be nervous about entering into a formal coalition agreement that would see senior Liberal Democrats offered cabinet posts because of concerns about a lack of influence over general election dates.

Any coalition deal with another party would need to be put before the Lib Dem members, a process that would not be necessary should Nick Clegg decide to offer his party's support on specific votes.

But as speculation began to build, a series of party figures lined up to insist that they would not indulge in "hypothetical" discussions about the outcome of the forthcoming poll, preferring to judge the lie of the land in the wake of an election result before revealing their intentions.

A party spokesman insisted it had made no formal plans for a hung parliament, a line echoed by deputy leader and treasury spokesman Vince Cable who said: "We are not ruling out any option."

He added: "Whoever emerged from the election the strongest would have the impetus to decide where to go next. It wouldn't be for us to second guess that.

"The position hasn't changed at all, we are competing on the basis of our ideas and values and we want to get as many seats and votes as we can at the coming general election.

"The public, not we, will decide the next government and our role in it will be constructive."

But Mr Cable hinted there was future trading to be done, claiming that the "uncertain outcome" of a hung parliament could be in the national interest because "it will force parties to work together in a way that single-party government won't".

He added: "We will be very constructive in our approach to it. But we are not engaging in fancy games."

A poll result that produces no overall majority is seen as a distinct possibility in the forthcoming election for the first time in many years.

Speculation has heightened in the wake of a narrowing of the Conservative lead over Labour in recent opinion polls, results that, if replicated in a general election would see David Cameron's party become the largest in the House of Commons, but without enough seats to form a majority government.

The Tories are understood to be planning for two elections this year in the event of a minority government calling a snap poll in a bid to produce a definitive result and offer a clear electoral mandate.