Tory MP Richard Reeves slates Lib Dems

By James Tapsfield
Published on 07/07/2012 00:00

Tory back-benchers have hit back at Liberal Democrat “blackmail” over House of Lords reform.

Coalition tensions rose again after Nick Clegg’s closest aide suggested the Deputy Prime Minister would block changes to parliamentary boundaries if the shake-up of the upper chamber failed.

Richard Reeves, who is stepping down as director of strategy, said: “Anyone who thinks Nick Clegg will shrug his shoulders, say ‘never mind’ and ‘everyone tried our best’, will be in for a rude awakening.”

Tory MP Peter Bone accused the Liberal Democrats of acting in an “untrustworthy and unprincipled” fashion.

“If they are really going to do that, then Clegg and Co should go, and let the Prime Minister govern as a minority Conservative administration,” Mr Bone said.