Tories offer vote on reform as final incentive

May 11 2010 by William Green, The Journal

THE Conservatives last night went the “extra mile” to secure a coalition with the Liberal Democrats by promising a referendum on voting reform.

William Hague, the party’s de-facto deputy leader, said the Shadow Cabinet and Tory MPs had agreed to the unprecedented move in horse-trading with Nick Clegg’s Lib Dems.

He also revealed Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg told David Cameron in a telephone call yesterday that he wanted a coalition with either Labour or the Tories but only if they offered a referendum on introducing voting reform. Mr Hague said his party had been focused on securing Lib Dem support for a minority Tory Government yesterday morning, but confirmed this had now changed to an offer of a full coalition.

And that meant Lib Dem cabinet ministers, the Shadow Foreign Secretary told The Journal.

But as the Tories push for a referendum, Labour is dangling the prospect of a quick change to proportional representation in front of the Lib Dems.

Mr Hague stressed there was now an “urgent” choice before the Lib Dems.

“The Liberal Democrats have said to the Conservative Party that they are only prepared to enter into a coalition agreement with a party that will change our electoral system to the alternative vote method of voting,” Mr Hague said.

“Now, David Cameron and the Shadow Cabinet and the Conservative MPs have decided that, although our concentration in all of these negotiations has been on the financial situation, on reducing the deficit, on the improvement of education, on the other great issues facing our country, that in the interests of trying to create a stable, secure Government, we will go the extra mile.”