A Lib-Con deal? - 8 in the morning, April 26th

8am By Alex Smith / @alexsmith1982

* Nick Clegg has indicated that he would speak with the Tories about the formation of a majority government first if Labour were to come third in the popular vote.

* Peter Hain has said that the Lib Dem membership would not want to see Clegg do a deal with Cameron.

* A Lib-Con deal would not be sustainable, writes Jackie Ashley in the Guardian.

* A contest to succed Gordon Brown has “broken into the open”, reports the Times.

* Savage Tory cuts would “make Margaret Thatcher seem tame”, Ed Balls warned last night.

* Labour says to the media: Let’s focus on policy.

* Labour must do more to mobilise progressives, writes James Macintyre in the New Statesman.

* Michael Gove has refused to rule out nursery top up fees, reports Left Foot Forward.

Alex Smith

Alex is the founder and CEO of The Cares Family. He was editor and first director of LabourList in 2009-2010, during which time he established the site as the number one Labour blog, and later an aide to Ed Miliband.

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