Davey won’t be drawn on Labour coalition deal after ‘amazing’ results
LIBERAL Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey refused to discuss the prospect of entering a potential coalition government with Labour after local election results that “far exceeded expectations” for his party.
When asked about the prospect, he told the Sunday Morning show on BBC One that it could be two-and-a-half years before the next general election and the question was “hypothetical”.
“I want to make sure we get this Conservative government out,” he said. “First of all, we have to beat Conservative MPs, we have to get this Conservative government out.”
A strong set of local election results for the Lib Dems included winning control of Hull Council from Labour.
Across the country after results from 198 out of 200 councils, the Tories had suffered a net loss of 12 authorities and 401 councillors, Labour had gained seven councils and 240 seats, the Liberal Democrats five authorities and 188 councillors.
Sir Ed said the results were “amazing” for his party.
“One thing when I go around the country, I hear that Labour councils are taking people for granted, the Conservative government are taking people for granted. I’m not going to do that,” he said.
“I will say that this is now a trend. We’ve seen in last year’s local elections, Liberal Democrats making net gains. Then we saw the two historic by-election victories, when we beat the Conservatives in true blue Buckinghamshire, then in North Shropshire in a seat they’ve held for 200 years. Now we’ve made gains which far exceeded our expectations across the country.”