The 2010 general election resulted in a hung parliament. In the wake of this inconclusive electoral outcome, there followed several days of intense negotiation between the parties. Some senior figures in the Labour Party hoped that it would be possible to remain in power through an agreement with the Liberal Democrats. Long seen as a party of the centreleft, the Liberal Democrats were seen to have more in common with Labour and many within New Labour had hoped to form a ‘progressive alliance’ with the Liberal Democrats after 1997.
However, the parliamentary arithmetic meant that a coalition between the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats was the most likely outcome and, eventually, a formal deal was announced between the two parties. Following successful negotiations for a coalition agreement between the two parties between 5 and 11 May 2010, Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg became deputy prime minister and several cabinet and middle and junior ranking ministerial positions were given to the Liberal Democrats. The agreement included some shared policy commitments, but also some areas where it was agreed that the two parties could disagree — the reform of the electoral system was one such area. It was agreed that the coalition would hold a referendum on the issue but that the two parties could campaign on different sides.
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