Tory deal with Lib Dems back on after talks with Labour falter
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
London, May 11, IRNA – A power-sharing deal between Britain’s Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats appeared the most likely Tuesday after negotiations with Labour faltered.
But doubts also remained about the durability of centre-right Tories being able to work with centre-left Lib Dems in a coalition if one was agreed.
In another dramatic turnaround, the Lib Dems resumed negotiations with the Tories over the possibility of forming a government after power-sharing talks with Labour ministers ended without any conclusion.
Tory leader David Cameron was also reported to have met for an hour with Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg but the situation remained fluid five days after last week’s general election ended in a stalemate.
Earlier, Clegg said that separate power-sharing talks had reached a “critical and final phase" but expressed hope to make an announcement soon to clarify the situation.
The dilemma faced by the Lib Dem leader was the stark choice of two possibly unsustainable governments; a coalition with the ideologically different Conservatives or a minority coalition with Labour that would depend on support of nationalist MPs.
Together a Tory-Lib Dem coalition would have an overall majority in parliament of over 70 seats in the 650-member House of Commons but dangers comes from within divisions in both parties opposed to the deal.
Clegg also has the added initial problem of gaining endorsement of a coalition deal with the Tories from 75 per cent of Lib Dem MPs as well as the party’s federal decision-making committee.
Without any confirmation there also remained the original prospect of a minority Tory government being propped up with a limited pact with the Lib Dems rather than being in a formal coalition.
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