Britain's Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg sought backing from senior party members on Saturday for a possible deal with the Conservatives after an election in which no party won an outright majority.The centre-right Conservatives under David Cameron won the most parliamentary seats in Thursday's election but need the support of other parties to form a stable government that can tackle a record budget deficit.A deal with the much smaller centre-left Liberal Democrats might achieve that and give the Lib Dems their first shot at government in decades.But leader Nick Clegg must overcome scepticism among a significant number of his party, who fear that Britain's third largest party would be forced to sacrifice too many cherished policies for a deal.Clegg said on Saturday that four core areas of tax, education, economic recovery and fundamental political reform were at issue."It's precisely those four changes which will guide us in the talks ahead," he said before a meeting with senior Lib Dem politicians.Financial markets, already rattled by a debt crisis in Greece, want a new government to be formed quickly so it can set about reducing the deficit swiftly and decisively.The pound, British government bonds and the London stock market all fell on Friday when it became clear the Conservatives would not have a parliamentary majority, but sterling and bonds recouped early losses on the prospect of a deal with the Lib Dems.There is no deadline for a deal but prolonged negotiations are likely to rattle markets.DEAL OR NO DEAL?Conservative leader David Cameron left open the format a deal might take when he offered on Friday to work with the Lib Dems.This could be a coalition, a rarity in Britain, but is more likely to involve a pact in which the Lib Dems agree to support a Conservative-led minority government in implementing an agreed legislative programme, in return for concessions.Senior members of both parties met on Friday night and further talks are expected over the next few days.The most important hurdle is agreement on the pace of lowering the budget deficit. The Conservatives have pledged to start cutting it immediately but the Lib Dems say this could harm Britain's recovery from a deep recession in 2008-2009.Britain's role in the European Union, immigration, defence, and electoral reform are also likely to be stumbling blocks.The Lib Dems have long pushed for a change to the current electoral system, which is stacked against smaller parties, in favour of proportional representation.Clegg has to persuade Lib Dem members of parliament that it is worth making concessions, even though many party members are sceptical."I will never consider voting for the Lib Dems again if a Conservative/Lib Dem pact is the outcome of this election!" one supporter said on Liberal Democrat Voice, a web site for party activists.If the Lib Dem/Conservative talks fail, a deal between Clegg's party and Labour is possible, but more complicated as the two parties combined would not have enough MPs to command a majority in the 650-seat House of Commons.A Lib Dem-Labour deal would therefore have to involve small regional parties such as Wales's Plaid Cymru and the Scottish National Party.Labour leader Gordon Brown has said the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats have the right to try to form a government first, even though he is entitled as sitting prime minister to have the first attempt under Britain's constitution.His party has pledged to hold a referendum on electoral reform, although critics point out that Labour has promised this to the Lib Dems in previous deals, but never delivered.(Editing by Kevin Liffey)News posted by www.newsinfoline.com
Click here to read more news from www.newsinfoline.com
Please follow our blogs
newsinfolinephotogallery
prabugallery
newsinfolinephotogallery1
photogallery1
No comments:
Post a Comment