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Your support makes all the difference.There will be a second election before Christmas if the Liberal Democrats are not part of the next government, Nick Clegg has said.
The liberal leader warned that a Labour minority government would be forced to placate the SNP with “sweetners” while the Conservatives would have to pander to their own right wing and Ukip.
“If [the main parties] try to stagger through with a messy and unstable minority government instead of putting the country first then they will risk all the hard work and sacrifices people have made over the last five years,” he said.
“The last thing Britain needs is a second election before Christmas. But that is exactly what will happen if Ed Miliband and David Cameron put their own political interest ahead of the national interest.”
Mr Clegg made his comment in a statement released by his party this afternoon. He added that the Liberal Democrats were “the only party that will ensure stability”.
Under the Fixed-Term Parliaments Act passed by the Coalition there cannot be a second election until 2020 unless two-thirds of the House of Commons votes for one or if the government loses a confidence vote and two weeks pass without the formation of a new government.
In practice Labour and the Conservatives would likely have to voter together for a second election in order to produce a two-thirds majority.
Mr Clegg’s comments came hours after his coalition partners David Cameron warned against a vote for the Liberal Democrats on the basis that they have not ruled out supporting a Labour government.
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