Nick Clegg says it'll mean a Labour or Tory-minority would collapse if they failed to offer ‘sweeteners’ to the SNP, UKIP or the DUP – or their own backbenchers rejected these backroom deals. The Liberal Democrats are the only party who can put the national interest first and create a strong and stable coalition, the Deputy Prime Minister added.
This makes a second General Election in 2015 election almost inevitable without more Lib Dem MPs in parliament. The warning comes as party analysis reveals:
Liberal Democrat Leader Nick Clegg said: "Everybody knows that no one will win this election – even if David Cameron and Ed Miliband won’t admit it publicly. That means that politicians will have to work together to put the country first. The Liberal Democrats have shown that coalitions can be strong and stable. But instead of creating stability, Labour and the Conservatives will create a shambles."
Mr Clegg continued: "If they try to stagger through with a messy and unstable minority government instead of putting the country first then they will risk all the hard work and sacrifices people have made over the last five years. The last thing Britain needs is a second election before Christmas. But that is exactly what will happen if Ed Miliband and David Cameron put their own political interest ahead of the national interest."
"The only party that will ensure stability is the Liberal Democrats." Mr Clegg added.
This makes a second General Election in 2015 election almost inevitable without more Lib Dem MPs in parliament. The warning comes as party analysis reveals:
- A minority Labour government would not be able to pass a Queen’s speech without conceding full fiscal autonomy to the SNP.
- A minority Labour government would not be able to pass a Spending Review if reliant upon SNP “ending austerity” votes, without conceding on their plans to make savings in the first year from departmental budgets and welfare cuts.
- A minority Conservative government would have to find an additional £1bn for Northern Ireland to buy DUP votes to support a Spending Review.
- A minority Conservative government would have to slash funding for international aid to buy off UKIP and Right Wing Tories.
- A minority Conservative government would not be able to pass a Queen's Speech without conceding to UKIP's demands to hold an EU referendum this year - undermining Cameron’s claims he wants to stay in Europe after negotiating a new settlement.
- A minority Labour government would not be able to pass key budgetary votes as the SNP have stated they will vote against estimates if they include the cost of Trident.
Liberal Democrat Leader Nick Clegg said: "Everybody knows that no one will win this election – even if David Cameron and Ed Miliband won’t admit it publicly. That means that politicians will have to work together to put the country first. The Liberal Democrats have shown that coalitions can be strong and stable. But instead of creating stability, Labour and the Conservatives will create a shambles."
Mr Clegg continued: "If they try to stagger through with a messy and unstable minority government instead of putting the country first then they will risk all the hard work and sacrifices people have made over the last five years. The last thing Britain needs is a second election before Christmas. But that is exactly what will happen if Ed Miliband and David Cameron put their own political interest ahead of the national interest."
"The only party that will ensure stability is the Liberal Democrats." Mr Clegg added.
