Burnley's new Lib Dem MP backs Conservatives pact

5:43pm Sunday 9th May 2010 in East Lancashire general election news Photograph of the Author By Tom Moseley, Reporter

VICTORY: Gordon Birtwistle celebrates Thursday night’s VICTORY: Gordon Birtwistle celebrates Thursday night’s

NEWLY-elected Lib Dem MP Gordon Birtwistle has backed a proposed deal with the Conservatives after the co-untry was left with a hung Parliament.

Mr Birtwistle, who ousted Labour to become Burnley’s MP on Thursday, called on the party to “bury the hatchet” with the Tories, put demands of voting reform to one side and focus on improving the economy.

The Tories and Lib Dems spent yesterday in talks following a frantic weekend of negotiations between the three main parties.

Mr Birtwistle was summoned to London on Saturday to meet Lib Dem MPs and party leader Nick Clegg, and was set to return to the capital this morning.

He said: “My view is that getting the country and the economy sorted as quickly as possible has to be the priority.”

Mr Clegg is facing strong opposition from parts of his party to a deal with the Conservatives, with the Lib Dems seen as closer aligned to Labour on policy matters.

But the Burnley MP, who admitted he was disappointed by his party’s total of 57 seats, said even the flagship policy of electoral reform should not be a dealbreaker.

He said: “If the country was not in financial Armageddon, that would be the number one priority.”

His views were echoed by Tory Ribble Valley Nigel Evans, who said: “Party politics need to be put to one side.”

But Mr Evans, who admitted he was disappointed by his own party’s performance in failing to win an overall majority, insisted the Lib Dems’ goal of a proportional voting system would lead to more confusion and hung Parliaments.

He said: “David Cameron now deserves the chance to govern this country.”

Meanwhile, Mr Birtwistle is set to be replaced as council leader by Gannow councillor Charlie Briggs, pending a meeting of the full council.

The decision was taken at an internal group meeting after a ballot today.

Comments (11)

7:02pm Sun 9 May 10

truesocialist says...

Amazing how quickly MPs will cross the floor - I wonder how many Lib Dem supporters and those Labour Supporters who contributed to your vote to get elected will be happy to find out that the man they thought they had elected has latent Tory tendencies - I doubt if you will ever get elected again and your local party should be requesting your resignation!!!!!!!
Amazing how quickly MPs will cross the floor - I wonder how many Lib Dem supporters and those Labour Supporters who contributed to your vote to get elected will be happy to find out that the man they thought they had elected has latent Tory tendencies - I doubt if you will ever get elected again and your local party should be requesting your resignation!!!!!!! truesocialist

7:57pm Sun 9 May 10

Burnley student says...

Don't sell out on electoral reform Gordon, don't forget Labour got only 5% more of the vote share than the Lib Dems but have FIVE TIMES the number of MPs? Democratic?
Don't sell out on electoral reform Gordon, don't forget Labour got only 5% more of the vote share than the Lib Dems but have FIVE TIMES the number of MPs? Democratic? Burnley student

8:35pm Sun 9 May 10

workaholic says...

Labour aren't out of the game just yet folks! Do you seriously want Cameron and Clegg running our country? If they were truly concerned for the public then why not be more up front concerning the issues involved in their negotiations.
We have a right to know!!!!!!
Labour aren't out of the game just yet folks! Do you seriously want Cameron and Clegg running our country? If they were truly concerned for the public then why not be more up front concerning the issues involved in their negotiations. We have a right to know!!!!!! workaholic

9:33pm Sun 9 May 10

superheavy says...

it will not work, they will be falling out all the time, they have different principles
it will not work, they will be falling out all the time, they have different principles superheavy

9:38pm Sun 9 May 10

HIDIDDLEDIDDLETHEY ARE ON THE FIDDLE says...

Cross the floor, you must be joking. Who would take him, certainly not the Conservatives.
Labour??????
Cross the floor, you must be joking. Who would take him, certainly not the Conservatives. Labour?????? HIDIDDLEDIDDLETHEY ARE ON THE FIDDLE

10:53pm Sun 9 May 10

Inter-Rossiter says...

Birthwistle's comments show how politically naive he really is.

.

Electoral reform should be a prerequisite of any power sharing deal because without it the Tories will cut and run when the time is right and this will leave the LibDems at a considerable disadvantage - for those who supported the LibDems at this election will not forgive any sellout on PR.

.

In fact, Birthwistle's term could be over before its even started.

.

Cosying up to the Cons without any guarantee, on a PR referendum, will leave many supporters of his party bewildered.
Birthwistle's comments show how politically naive he really is. . Electoral reform should be a prerequisite of any power sharing deal because without it the Tories will cut and run when the time is right and this will leave the LibDems at a considerable disadvantage - for those who supported the LibDems at this election will not forgive any sellout on PR. . In fact, Birthwistle's term could be over before its even started. . Cosying up to the Cons without any guarantee, on a PR referendum, will leave many supporters of his party bewildered. Inter-Rossiter

9:29am Mon 10 May 10

RAyzer says...

GLAD RACIST LABOUR DIDNT GET IN........cant afford cancer treatment for our own,yet they can afford millions for other countrys!!!!!they lost the hospital and didnt give 2 hoots for our town......as well as having useless kitty usher
GLAD RACIST LABOUR DIDNT GET IN........cant afford cancer treatment for our own,yet they can afford millions for other countrys!!!!!they lost the hospital and didnt give 2 hoots for our town......as well as having useless kitty usher RAyzer

10:25am Mon 10 May 10

DaveBurnley says...

LibDems haven't got much chance of being elected in their own right, so this is a golden opportunity for them.
It isn't a case of 'crossing the floor'. Rather it's taking advantage of an opportunity to share power and make a real contibution.
The country needs a real government to get them out of the mess left by NuLabour, this is the LibDems chance to show that they can take part in government, and perhaps go from strength to strength.
LibDems haven't got much chance of being elected in their own right, so this is a golden opportunity for them. It isn't a case of 'crossing the floor'. Rather it's taking advantage of an opportunity to share power and make a real contibution. The country needs a real government to get them out of the mess left by NuLabour, this is the LibDems chance to show that they can take part in government, and perhaps go from strength to strength. DaveBurnley

11:14am Mon 10 May 10

ms9 says...

Congrats on your election, Gordon! I'm no huge fan of the Tories but agree a fact may be the lesser of two evils.
Congrats on your election, Gordon! I'm no huge fan of the Tories but agree a fact may be the lesser of two evils. ms9

8:01pm Tue 11 May 10

Chris P Bacon says...

RAyzer wrote:
GLAD RACIST LABOUR DIDNT GET IN........cant afford cancer treatment for our own,yet they can afford millions for other countrys!!!!!they lost the hospital and didnt give 2 hoots for our town......as well as having useless kitty usher
Ha ha; you calling Labour 'racist' is like Anne Widdecombe calling someone 'ugly'. The propaganda you've swallowed and then spout on here like it has anything to do with the truth shows you up as being as stupid as you undoubtedly are.
[quote][p][bold]RAyzer[/bold] wrote: GLAD RACIST LABOUR DIDNT GET IN........cant afford cancer treatment for our own,yet they can afford millions for other countrys!!!!!they lost the hospital and didnt give 2 hoots for our town......as well as having useless kitty usher[/p][/quote]Ha ha; you calling Labour 'racist' is like Anne Widdecombe calling someone 'ugly'. The propaganda you've swallowed and then spout on here like it has anything to do with the truth shows you up as being as stupid as you undoubtedly are. Chris P Bacon

3:49pm Thu 13 May 10

andy1 says...

RAyzer wrote:
GLAD RACIST LABOUR DIDNT GET IN........cant afford cancer treatment for our own,yet they can afford millions for other countrys!!!!!they lost the hospital and didnt give 2 hoots for our town......as well as having useless kitty usher
Pity you didnt listen to the debates on TV then RAyzer Labour where the only people promising treatment for cancer victims. Your right Kitty was useless I think the vast majority of Labour supporters would agree on that score. I like the comment over Anne Widdecombe Chris P Bacon thats amusing.
[quote][p][bold]RAyzer[/bold] wrote: GLAD RACIST LABOUR DIDNT GET IN........cant afford cancer treatment for our own,yet they can afford millions for other countrys!!!!!they lost the hospital and didnt give 2 hoots for our town......as well as having useless kitty usher[/p][/quote]Pity you didnt listen to the debates on TV then RAyzer Labour where the only people promising treatment for cancer victims. Your right Kitty was useless I think the vast majority of Labour supporters would agree on that score. I like the comment over Anne Widdecombe Chris P Bacon thats amusing. andy1

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