Votes deal could keep Tories out for years

PATRICIA WYNN DAVIES

Political Correspondent

Tony Blair was last night offered the enticing prospect of Liberal Democrat support for at least two Parliaments to keep out the Conservatives and ensure Britain undertakes vital economic and democratic changes.

Paddy Ashdown, the Liberal Democrat leader, gave the clearest signal yet of his willingness to promise continuous support for a Labour government in return for backing from Mr Blair, as prime minister, for proportional representation in a referendum.

Informal talks have already begun between senior figures in both parties over a referendum on introducing that system for the Commons.

Mr Ashdown's address last night came amid increasing signs of Tory alarm that a Labour/Liberal Democrat understanding might have the potential to keep them out of office for a couple of decades. The Liberal-Labour talks are taking place between Robin Cook, the party's foreign affairs spokesman, and Robert Maclennan, the Liberal Democrats' spokesman on constitutional affairs.

Mr Cook, a long-time advocate of proportional representation, has overall responsibility for developing Labour policy and chairs the committee drawing up its election manifesto.

Mr Blair has made a commitment to such a referendum but has said nothing further on key details. The Liberal Democrats are pressing for a cross- party agreement on the precise system that should be put to a plebiscite, followed by a Bill which would then be put to the British people in a post-legislative referendum.

The Liberal Democrat leader said last night that repairing the damage of Conservative rule and restoring trust in government would involve a significant constitutional programme.

But there would also have to be increased educational investment lasting at least a decade, reform of the welfare system, making environmental sustainability the guiding principle of all government policy and forging a new, constructive, attitude to Europe.

This would "not be achievable in a single parliament-- nor, I believe, by a single party either," he said.

In a clear development from Mr Ashdown's 1992 speech at Chard, Somerset, on pluralist politics - and one that will alarm some within his own party as well as Conservatives - Mr Ashdown said his vision of "partnership politics" would avoid the inevitable "swing of the pendulum" that would return the Tories to power in the election after next.

In a speech conspicuously devoid of stock political attacks on either of the two main parties, Mr Ashdown said: "Partnership politics means parties which are different, distinctive and independent, offering separate choices at the ballot box, but being prepared to work together where they agree and they believe it is in the nation's interest to do so."

In what might well be considered by Mr Blair to be an extremely attractive offer, Mr Ashdown said: "It is as easy, and as effective, for parties to work together across the floor of the House as it is to form a partnership on the Government benches."

A cautious Mr Blair emphasised a Labour government would have a Labour programme but said: "I have always made it clear that where the Liberal Democrats agree with Labour on certain items of change, for example in modernising Britain's constitution, we would work with them."

Leading article, page 14

Andrew Marr, page 15