Clegg is ‘holding the country to ransom’

THE Conservatives accused Nick Clegg of trying to “hold the country to ransom” after the Liberal Democrat leader spelt out some of the conditions under which he would offer his party’s support in a hung parliament.

Clegg made clear that electoral reform would be an “absolute pre-condition” for his party, and indicated that he would not be willing to prop up Gordon Brown in power if Labour came third in the popular vote but won the most seats.

But there was doubt if the Conservatives would contemplate any post-election pact which involved ditching first-past-the-post for Westminster elections.