Lib Dems rejects Tory pact offer

1.54.00pm UTC (GMT +0000) Sun 16th Dec 2007

Charles Kennedy says an alliance with the Tories is unlikely

Former Liberal Democrat leader Charles Kennedy has poured cold water on an offer from the Conservatives to forge a "progressive alliance" against Labour. He said there were too many issues dividing the parties. Lib Dem acting leader Vince Cable also rejected the offer, saying Mr Cameron was living "in cloud cuckoo land". David Cameron has called on both the Green Party and the Lib Dems to work with his party.

But Mr Kennedy said that, although he would not reject outright the idea of working with the Conservatives on specific issues, a longer-term alliance was unlikely. He said "I don't see a great consensus between the leaders of the Tories and Liberal Democrats on Europe, for instance, we are in favour of the new EU treaty - they are against it."

Mr Cable said: "A Conservative party that wants to cut funding on public services and talks the talk on green issues but fails to deliver any meaningful policies has little to offer today's Britain.

"Only recently the Tories have revealed their true colours on environmental issues by supporting nuclear power and backing the expansion of major airports."