Lid Dem President: Tory Pact is 'Raving Mad'
The Independent reports:
The new president of the Liberal Democrats last night dismissed the idea of a long-term pact with the Tories as "absolutely stark raving mad".
In comments likely to raise the hackles of traditional Conservatives, Tim Farron told The Independent on Sunday his politics is "very much built upon an anger at the injustice" of Margaret Thatcher's premiership.
"The fact there's a good working relationship is something we should celebrate, but not assume there is any kind of attempt to assimilate," he said, just hours after defeating ex-MP and former London mayoral candidate Susan Kramer to the presidency by 14,593 votes to 12,950. "You would have to be absolutely stark raving mad to think there's any chance of a merger or closer relationship or a pact with the Conservatives." Lib Dems will contest every seat, he added.
But the remarks will disappoint many in the coalition who have hinted at the two parties moving closer together. Nick Boles, a Conservative MP close to David Cameron, proposed a formal electoral pact, while fellow Tory David Mowat suggested that in the event of the introduction of the Alternative Vote, Lib Dems would rank Tories second and vice-versa.
Nick Clegg, the Deputy Prime Minister, will this week use a speech to the Hansard Society to suggest the Lib Dems will remain in power far beyond the next election, insisting "plural politics is here to stay".
