The former Leader of the Liberal Democrats Sir Vince Cable has said there are no negotiations going on between Labour and the Liberal Democrats ahead of the next General Election.
Speaking on GB News, Sir Vince said the Lib Dems would not be looking to do a deal with Labour and said there were no discussions for a ‘confidence and supply’ arrangement between the two parties.
On the first day of the party’s annual conference from Bournemouth, Sir Vince said there was “every reason to be buoyant and optimistic.”
“They’ve had this succession of good by-election results and very good local election results with very effective organisation and targeting which has done very well,” he said.
“There are good expectations that when the election comes we’ll get a substantial number of MPs.”
Sir Vince was asked about the war of words going on between Labour and the Lib Dems which is taking place over the Mid Bedfordshire by election, where the Lib Dems have put out leaflets saying they are the bookies’ favourites – a spot now taken by Labour.
But Sir Vince refused to rule out more leaflets with the claim, saying “There are cases in these very large constituencies – North Shropshire is a good example – where we came from a low base after the election in 2019 to win, so my opinion is that we can do very well.”
As talk of the next General Election heats up, the former party leader said there were no plans to do a deal with Labour.
“The answer is no and no,” he said to questions of either a pact or a confidence and supply arrangement.
“There is a tacit understanding in many seats that it makes sense to vote Lib Dem in some and Labour in others.
“As you’ve just pointed out there are cases where it’s not so obvious like Mid Beds.
“There would be that kind of informal understanding as we had in 1997 but I’ve not been involved in any myself.”
A confidence and supply agreement is a less formal arrangement than a coalition, where another party or independent members agree to support the government on defined issues and policies.
