Keen tells disgruntled Lib Dems 'join Labour'

ALAN Keen has issued an open invitation to disgruntled Liberal Democrats wishing to jump ship in protest at the party's coalition with the Tories.

The Feltham & Heston MP urged any local Lib Dem members disappointed by their group getting into bed with the Conservatives to join Labour.

Mr Keen claimed his party were the Lib Dems' natural allies when it came to policies, suggesting his personal views were even closer to those of Nick Clegg's party on many issues.

"I welcome with open arms any Liberal Democrats thinking about joining a rejuvenated Labour Party who want to come and see me," he told the Chronicle. "Labour's policies are very close to theirs, many of which they have had to ditch to go into coalition with the Conservatives.

"Even if their views don't necessarily coincide with the Labour Party's position, they probably coincide closely with mine. Nick Clegg's essentially a Tory anyway but I think this coalition's going to be hard to take for a lot of Lib Dems."

The Tories agreed on Tuesday night to form a coalition with the Lib Dems for the next five years, having offered up a number of concessions such as scrapping their plans for a married couple allowance and giving their new partners a number of cabinet positions.

On their part, the Lib Dems have reportedly agreed to accept Tory plans for public spending cuts and drop their opposition to renewal of the Trident nuclear deterrent.

Mark Bowen, leader of Hounslow Conservative Group and losing parliamentary candidate for Feltham & Heston, insisted the partnership could work.

"Both parties have made concessions and compromises, which is what people would expect in these circumstances," he said. "If there's good will on both sides I don't see why it can't work. What's important is that they work together to address the serious problems we have in this country, especially the deficit and immigration.

"I think people want (the Government) to deal with the issues rather than (looking at) ideological comparisons. Both parties seem to be behaving in a very grown up way."