Liberal Democrats to play key role on spending cuts
The Liberal Democrats will take a key role in deciding the speed of public sector spending cuts after the UK this morning woke up to a hung parliament.
Neither Labour nor the Conservatives can now get the 326 seats in the House of Commons that they would need for an outright majority.
At 9.45am, David Cameron’s Conservatives held 290 seats, Labour held 247 seats, the Liberal Democrats held 51 seats and other parties held 27 seats. With 35 seats yet to be announced, this means that it is mathematically impossible for any party to reach the 326 seats needed.
This gives the Liberal Democrats a key role in determining whether the Conservative Party or Labour Party will make up the next government in a coalition. Labour has promised the Liberal Democrats changes on the electoral system.
However, Nick Clegg’s party may opt to throw their support behind the Conservatives, which have the most votes and the most seats in this election.
The Liberal Democrat will play a key role in deciding whether to support Conservative plans for early action to tackle the £163bn public sector deficit, or Labour plans to delay public spending cuts until the economic recovery is more secure.
More election coverage will follow later today.
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[...] morning, it emerged that a hung parliament is inevitable, meaning a coalition government between several parties will [...]
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