Tories, Liberal Democrats inching closer to deal
PTI
LONDON, MAY 9
The Conservative and Liberal Democrats parties today cleared some of the hurdles coming in the way of the formation of the first ever coalition government in Britain since World War II but certain sticking points remained to be sorted out.
Indications that the two sides were yet to stitch a deal came when they announced that the talks would continue within 24 hours after reporting the progress to their respective leaders David Cameron (Conservative) and Nick Clegg (Liberal Democrats).
At the end of today’s round of hectic parleys, both sides described it as “very positive and productive”.
Senior Conservative leader William Hague, who is one of the key negotiators, told reporters after a marathon meeting that the two parties had agreed that economic stability would be key to any deal.
The two leaders did not attend the meetings today but were in touch over phone.
Conservatives emerged as the single largest party with 306 seats in the 650-member House of Commons in the General Election which has thrown up a hung parliament. Labour got 258 seats, while Liberal Democrats won 57 seats.
For the record, interlocutors of both parties maintained that the talks were continuing in a spirit of goodwill and respect for each others’ positions.
Conservative leaders said a “deal” was unlikely to be reached before tomorrow.
Liberal Democrats leader Nick Clegg said “everyone was being constructive”, but maintained that he would be guided in the talks by his party’s key demands on electoral reform and taxation.
During the talks, the Conservative team had reportedly offered some key portfolios – such as Home and Transport – to the Liberal Democrats.
Last night too, the two leaders had spent 70 minutes in face-to-face talks on the neutral ground of Admiralty House in Whitehall, the seat of the Government here, with both sides describing the encounter as “constructive and amicable”.
Clegg also spoke to Prime Minister Gordon Brown on phone at the request of the Prime Minister in a conversation which the Lib Dems again described as “amicable”.
Gordon Brown, who continues as prime minister until he resigns and a new government is sworn in, has offered the Liberal Democrats talks if no deal is reached with the Conservatives.
Clegg’s negotiating team includes Danny Alexander, home affairs spokesman Chris Huhne, and Andrew Stunnell.
Tories, Liberal Democrats inching closer to deal
LONDON, MAY 9 The Conservative and Liberal Democrats parties today cleared some of the hurdles coming in the way of the formation of the first ever coalition government in Britain since World War II but certain sticking points remained to be sorted out.
