TIMES ONLINE: Nick Clegg has the full backing of his party's senior ranks as he prepares to strike a power-sharing deal with the Conservatives, one of the Liberal Democrats' negotiators said today.
David Laws described the leader’s talks with his parliamentary party and the Lib Dem shadow cabinet as “very positive and constructive” and said the party was determined to put the national interest before “party advantage” to deliver “stable and good government”.
Winning the backing of his party's most influential members was the first hurdle for Clegg as he attempts to form an alliance with the Tories after voters delivered a hung parliament.
Clegg pledged today that he would push for "fundamental" reform of the British electoral system. Ahead of a meeting with the Lib Dems’ 57 MPs and 72 peers, he added that he would prioritise fairer taxes, help for disadvantaged schoolchildren and a new approach to the economy.
Laws, who is one of four Lib Dem negotiators due to resume talks with their Tory counterparts tomorrow morning, said the MPs and peers endorsed the strategy “in full and completely”. >>> Amar Singh | Saturday, May 08, 2010
