Tories consider ‘informal’ anti-Labour pact

By Mark Ferguson / @markfergusonuk

Tory ministers are discussing plans for an “informal” anti-Labour voting pact between the Conservatives and the Lib Dems at the next election, according to the Independent. According to the paper, one Tory minister said:

“One scenario is an informal pact in which the two Coalition partners would help each other where they could. Voters aren’t stupid. They can work out who is best placed to win in their constituency – as they did in Oldham. It wouldn’t have to be a formal, top-down pact, which would be very difficult to impose on local associations in any case.”

Former Tory MP Paul Goodman attacked the unknown minister over at Conservative Home, blaming the story on “ultra-modernisers”. The Tory right would no doubt be unhappy at any pact which diluted “real conservatism” – as I’ve already highlighted – they’re unhappy already.

However the possibility of an informal pact – even one denied by both Tory and Lib Dems but promoted at a local level (or even adhered to through personal tactical choice by individual voters) is something which Labour should be incredibly wary of – and prepapre for.