Labour divisions over Lib Dem deal
By Sam Dale
Labour is split over forming a coalition with the Liberal Democrats in the case of a hung parliament.
Prime minister Gordon Brown today called for a “progressive alliance” while schools, children and families secretary Ed Balls slammed coalition governments.
Mr Brown said he wants a new politics with constitutional reform of the electoral system and House of Lords at its core.
Speaking to the Independent, he explained: “We have to show people we are in the business of the new politics and we have a plan for that as well as the economy.
“I don’t think people have yet focused on that. We’re serious about change. That is my mission.”
The prime minister continued by highlighting the differences between the Liberal Democrats and Labour with the Tories:”There are two competing visions of the future,” he said.
“If you want a referendum on the new politics, you have got to consider voting Labour. We are the only party committed to a referendum on it. You won’t get one with the Tories.
“We are talking about the political system, not about personalities. You can change the personnel, but you won’t change the political system. The Conservatives offer no change. You would get a change of personnel and a return to the old politics.”
Mr Brown echoed the sentiments of home secretary Alan Johnson by hinting at an alliance with the Liberal Democrats to keep the Tories out of office.
But Mr Balls seemed to contradict his cabinet colleagues by criticising coalition governments.
“Coalition politics is not the British way of doing government” he said.
“Proportional representation takes you down to small parties holding the ring and leads to backroom deals.”
Just last week Mr Johnson had said: “You can have a progressive future or a Conservative future but not both. The people who want to cast their votes against Labour at dinner parties had the luxury of that before. Now they dont. They could let in the Tories. We are the underdogs.”
Speaking about the Lib Dems he added: “We have a lot in common – electoral reform, for example. We agree that we shouldn’t be playing games around national insurance and that we shouldn’t kowtow to companies like Marks & Spencer that have just paid Stuart Rose’s successor £15 million as a golden handshake.”
The divisions come after Nick Clegg branded Mr Brown a “desperate politician” in today’s Daily Telegraph.
The Liberal Democrat leader said his Labour counterpart had “systematically blocked, and personally blocked, reform.”
And when questioned about the prime minister’s promise of change now he added: “I just do not believe him.”
