Lib Dems raise £1.6m since call of general election
The Liberal Democrats have raised £1.6m since Theresa May announced her intention to hold an early election, Tim Farron has said. Mr Farron also ruled out the possibility of forming a coalition government with either Labour or the Tories, warning they would both lead the country into a hard Brexit.
“Since the announcement on Tuesday, the Liberal Democrats have raised £1.6m,” he told ITV 1’s Peston On Sunday. When asked if his party had ever raised so much money in such a short time frame, he said: “No where near in that short time. That’s until Friday, so goodness knows what it is today.”
He encouraged anyone feeling generous to “consider the Liberal Democrat bank account ... still open for
business”. The Lib Dem leader also insisted his party will not prop up a minority government via a confidence and supply deal. Mr Farron reiterated there will be “no circumstances whatsoever” in which his party will enter into coalition with Labour or the Conservatives after next month’s general election, given the current approaches of those two parties and their leaders.
He also dismissed an informal arrangement to offer his party’s support on budget measures and other key votes to help a minority Tory or Labour administration. Challenged about the prospect by presenter Robert Peston, Mr Farron replied: “No supply and confidence, no coalition, no deal.”
Asked if his party would prop up a minority government, Mr Farron said: “No, because what is very clear at this moment is that we have an official Opposition which has not been behaving like an alternative government but is not even behaving like an opposition.
“It’s neither fish nor fowl on the biggest issue that has faced us for generations. What Britain needs in this election is clarity and a contest. Theresa May has called this election because she believes it’ll be a coronation. The Liberal Democrats are determined to make it a contest with a clear alternative position, and I don’t want people thinking a vote for the Liberal Democrats is a proxy for anything else.”