Lib Dem 'Undecided' On Coalition

The Liberal Democrats have expressed ambivalence towards their role in a possible hung parliament.

However, leader Nick Clegg has reportedly ruled out of entering a coalition government if the next election fails to return a clear majority party to the commons.

Mr Clegg is not planning to formalise a coalition with with either Labour or the Tories, according to reports.

But a Lib Dem spokesman said it had not considered "hypothetical situations".

In the event of a hung parliament, the Lib Dems - as the third largest political party - could hold the balance of power.

All Lib Dem members would have to be consulted before Mr Clegg decided to form an alliance with another party.

The party's spokesman would not be drawn on likelihood of a deal, insisting: "We want people to vote for us as a party that fights for certain things."

Opinion polls suggest this year's General Election could return the first hung parliament in over 30 years.

According to the Guardian newspaper - which speculates Mr Clegg would renounce a coalition - the Lib Dem leader would not put forward any of his MPs for Cabinet jobs, instead preferring to influence policy making and legislation.

It is believed his 'shopping list' would include extra funding for education; more redistributive taxes; measures to create a "greener economy"; and political reforms including changes to voting and an elected House of Lords.

A Lib Dem spokesman said: "We have not ruled in or out any hypothetical situations after an election.

"The voters will decide the result of the election and then all parties will have to respond to that decision.

"In the meantime we will get on with our job of getting across the Liberal Democrats' policies to build a fairer Britain."

Despite Mr Clegg denying he would not act as a 'king maker' both Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Tory leader David Cameron have been at pains to show their comparison with Lib Dem policy.

Last week Labour's plan to change the UK parliamentary voting system was backed by the commons, however the Lib Dems said the move still did not go far enough.

According to sources close to David Cameron, the Conservative party would be prepared to dissolve parliament again before the end of the year if it won the election through a slim majority.

This decision, it is claimed, would be bolster if the party was having difficulty passing legislation.

(PR/GK)