Keir Starmer refuses to rule out coalition with Lib Dems

Sir Keir Starmer has refused to regularisation retired a conjugation with the Lib Dems if Labour fails to triumph a bulk astatine the adjacent wide election.

Asked if helium would bash a woody with the Lib Dems, the Labour person told the BBC this was a "hypothetical question".

But helium said helium would ne'er bash a woody with the SNP due to the fact that of a "fundamental disagreement" connected Scottish independence.

Despite section predetermination gains, experts accidental enactment for Labour whitethorn not yet beryllium capable to triumph an wide majority.

Last week the enactment gained 537 councillors and 22 councils successful England, including cardinal battlegrounds similar Swindon, Plymouth, Medway and Stoke-on Trent.

Those are places wherever Labour is hoping for occurrence astatine the adjacent wide election.

Following the results, Sir Keir said his enactment was connected people for a majority.

The BBC's projected nationalist share - which estimates what the result would person been if each of Britain had the accidental to ballot - enactment Labour astatine 35%, 9 points up of the the Conservatives.

But galore commentators person predicted this level of enactment whitethorn not construe into an wide bulk astatine the adjacent wide election, which indispensable hap earlier January 2025.

If nary enactment wins a bulk successful the House of Commons, the effect is simply a hung Parliament.

The enactment with the astir seats is usually asked to signifier a authorities but successful bid to unafraid a bulk it indispensable get enactment from different parties - either done an informal woody oregon a ceremonial coalition.

Asked if helium would ever bash a woody with the Liberal Democrats, Sir Keir told the BBC: "I privation to property connected for a Labour majority, that's what we're aiming for. This is simply a hypothetical question."

However, successful effect to the aforesaid question successful narration to the Scottish National Party, helium said: "No... due to the fact that there's a cardinal disagreement.

"I volition ne'er bash a woody with a enactment that thinks the separation of the United Kingdom is the mode forward."

Put to him that this was besides a hypothetical question, Sir Keir insisted "there is nary ground for a woody astatine each with the SNP due to the fact that of their authorities of separation".

On Sunday, Lib Dem person Sir Ed Davey - whose enactment gained 12 councils and much than 400 councillors connected Thursday - ruled retired going into a conjugation with the Conservatives but refused to accidental the aforesaid for Labour.

He said it was a "hypothetical question" adding that helium would not "take the voters for granted".

It each adds up to what looks similar symmetrical flirting from Labour and the Liberal Democrats.

They each reply the question successful precisely the aforesaid way, contempt being capable to beryllium categoric astir arsenic hypothetical situations of deals with the Conservatives and the SNP respectively.

In some section elections and astatine a wide election, successful astir instances Labour and the Lib Dems are competitory against the Conservatives successful antithetic parts of the country.

Expect to spot Tory MPs and ministers speech up what they spot arsenic the dangers of a hung parliament, with Labour reliant connected different parties for support.

In 2010, the Lib Dems formed a conjugation authorities with the Tories but the enactment paid the terms astatine the adjacent wide election, losing 49 seats.

The Conservative-Lib Dem conjugation lasted a afloat word and was arguably much unchangeable than the Conservative-only governments that followed it.

Sir Keir said helium was "confident" Labour's section predetermination results enactment the enactment connected people for a bulk but helium was not "complacent", saying "there's much enactment to do".

The Labour person added that his party's run had focused connected tackling the outgo of surviving and it present needed to "deliver".

Leaders of the 22 councils won by Labour person been fixed the occupation of drafting up "emergency cost-of-living plans" wrong their archetypal 100 days, arsenic good arsenic reviewing section lodging and improvement policies.

Sir Keir was besides asked if helium agreed with comments made by Labour's then-Business Secretary Peter Mandelson astatine the tallness of the New Labour authorities nether Tony Blair, that helium was "intensely relaxed astir radical getting filthy affluent arsenic agelong arsenic they wage their taxes".

"I'm precise relaxed astir radical being affluent and getting rich," Sir Keir said.

"I cognize what aspiration is. I came from a moving people inheritance and I was capable to not lone caput up the Crown Prosecution Service but present pb the Labour Party."

He added: "But I want, obviously, everyone to wage their taxes and I privation fairness and I privation equality and I privation each kid to person that opportunity."

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has insisted his 5 priorities - including cutting inflation, bringing down NHS waiting lists and tackling tiny vessel crossings - are the champion mode to enactment his enactment backmost connected way aft it mislaid 48 councils and much than 1,000 councillors.