Clegg rules out coalition deal over Brexit differences as Lib Dems look to gain MPS

THE Liberal Democrats were set to increase their MPS in Parliament by five, according to the exit poll last night, but former leader Nick Clegg ruled out a coalition in the event of another hung parliament.

Mr Clegg said there is no “meeting point” between Labour, the Conservatives and his party because of their views on Brexit.

The exit poll showed the party increasing their seats in the House of Commons from nine to 14, although party sources urged caution last night.

One source said the Lib Dems are confident in London and Scotland but there are fears Nick Clegg could lose his Sheffield seat to Labour. The area has a large student population.

Speaking to ITV, Mr Clegg, who was the deputy Prime Minister under the coalition government with the Conservatives in 2010, said: “It’s clearly a complete boomerang election for the Conservatives who when they started out in this election campaign were treating it as something of a coronation and clearly it’s going to be a much tighter fought contest.”

Asked about the possibly of a coalition with either Labour or the Tories he added: “There’s no meeting point between the Conservatives and the Labour parties and the Lib Dems.” He said the Lib Dems do not agree with the consensus between the two main parties that the UK will leave the EU no matter what and added there is “no way the Lib Dems will dignify that headlong rush [to Brexit].”

Tim Farron has consistently ruled out a coalition.

A party source urged caution when looking at the projected seats last night, warning many seats already held by the Lib Dems are “on a knife edge”.

They added that Scotland could yield a couple of extra MPS for the party, as could London, but warned the exit poll does not fit with the picture they have been building up on the ground.