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London, UK, May 8, 2010 – The Liberal Democrat and Conservative parties
opened talks on Friday over a possible alliance to form a government
following an inconclusive general election result.
The negotiations could give the perennially third-ranking LibDems their
first taste of power for decades.
But grassroot party members, more left-leaning than the LibDem
leadership and who have the power to scupper any deal, said they were
unhappy about the talks with the Conservatives.
"I will never consider voting for the Lib Dems again if a Conservative/LibDem
pact is the outcome of this election," said one supporter writing on an
LibDem activist website. "A Lib-Con coalition means nothing and will do
nothing," wrote another.
LibDem leader Nick Clegg spoke to David Cameron, by telephone on Friday
ahead of broader talks between senior politicians from both parties.
The two men "agreed they should explore further proposals for a
programme of economic and political reform," a LibDem spokesman said.
The Conservatives, who governed for much of the 20th century but who
have been out of power for 13 years, overtook Labour to win the most
parliamentary seats in Thursday's poll, but fell short of a majority.
The LibDems came a distant third, but now hold the balance of power.
Clegg, whose standing in his party has weakened after a disappointing
poll result for the LibDems, meets with his newly elected legislators on
Saturday.
TRIPLE LOCK
The meeting will effectively form the first part of an intricate
three-part internal process that limits Clegg's powers when negotiating
any form of coalition or support for another party.
The rules were imposed on LibDem leaders in 1998 by members angry after
the disclosure of secret negotiations held with Labour which could have
seen the two parties forming a centre-left alliance against the
Conservatives.
The strict "triple lock" conditions mean it is much harder for Clegg to
agree a coalition than it would be for Cameron.
The conditions state that any proposal that could affect the party's
"independence of political action" must first win majority approval by
LibDem legislators as well as the party's federal executive committee.
Unless that approval is passed by a three-quarters majority by both
bodies, the party will have to call a special conference of members to
discuss the plans, a event that would take at least a week to convene.
And if that assembly fails to pass the proposals with a two-thirds
majority, a postal ballot of party members must be held.
Source: Reuters
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