Editing Lib–Lab pact (section)

===Proposed coalition of 2010===
After the [[hung parliament]] resulting from the [[2010 United Kingdom general election|2010 general election]], the Liberal Democrats, as they had indicated they would do so prior to the election,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/clegg-reveals-lib-dems-are-prepared-to-back-cameron-1825917.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220614/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/clegg-reveals-lib-dems-are-prepared-to-back-cameron-1825917.html |archive-date=2022-06-14 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Clegg reveals Lib Dems are prepared to back Cameron |location=London |work=The Independent |first=Michael |last=Savage |date=2009-11-23}}</ref> first began negotiations with the Conservatives—the party that had won the most votes and seats—about the possibility of forming a government; but, after talks appeared to have stalled, complementary negotiations were undertaken with Labour.

Labour's delegation for negotiations included: [[Peter Mandelson]], [[Andrew Adonis, Baron Adonis|Andrew Adonis]], [[Ed Miliband]] and [[Ed Balls]]. Press rumours of a possible Lib Dem–Labour deal were publicised, with Prime Minister [[Gordon Brown]] alleged to be willing to offer to legislate for a change to the [[Instant-runoff voting|alternative vote]] system, followed by a referendum on proportional representation, if an arrangement that would keep him in government could be agreed.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/8674103.stm |publisher=BBC News |title=Labour 'ready to concede defeat' |date=2010-05-11}}</ref>

A Lib–Lab coalition would, however, have been eight seats short of a majority.<ref name=travis>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2010/may/10/how-rival-coalition-deals-might-work |location=London |work=The Guardian |first=Alan |last=Travis |title=Con-Lib or Lib-Lab – how the rival coalition deals might work |date=2010-05-10}}</ref> A coalition of Labour, the Liberal Democrats, the [[Social Democratic and Labour Party|SDLP]], [[Plaid Cymru]], the [[Alliance Party of Northern Ireland]] and the [[Green Party of England and Wales|Green Party]]—a "rainbow" or "traffic light" coalition—would have been needed to give a working majority of one.<ref name=travis /> For this, amongst other reasons, the talks failed. On the collapse of talks with Labour, a deal between the Liberal Democrats and the Conservative Party was reached (subsequently being approved by Liberal Democrats members at a special party conference).

There was a significant level of hostility to such a deal within the Labour Party, with coalition proposals being opposed by, among others, former Cabinet ministers [[John Reid, Baron Reid of Cardowan|John Reid]] and [[David Blunkett]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/wintour-and-watt/2010/may/11/coalition-talks-libdem-labour-deal |location=London |work=The Guardian |first=Patrick |last=Wintour |title=Coalition talks: Labour revolt may scupper deal with Liberal Democrats |date=2010-05-11}}</ref> John Reid said that such a coalition would be "bad for the country".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rR_prPtIPQo |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/rR_prPtIPQo |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|title=John Reid: Lib-Lab coalition 'bad for the country' |publisher=ITN News @ YouTube |date=10 May 2010}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

[[David Laws]], chief negotiator for the Liberal Democrats in coalition negotiations, subsequently commented on Labour's preparation and conduct in negotiations; his main areas of criticism centred on Labour's lack of contrition about their record over the previous thirteen years, inadequate preparation for discussions, their unwillingness to accommodate Liberal Democrat policy proposals in the potential programme for government, and the arrogant and patronising attitude of specific key Labour figures. He said that whilst he felt Gordon Brown was quite serious about pursuing talks, he believed former minister Ed Balls was deliberately "sabotaging" them.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/somerset/hi/people_and_places/newsid_9216000/9216731.stm |publisher=BBC News |first=Ruth |last=Bradley |title=Balls "sabotaged" coalition talks |date=2010-11-23}}</ref>