Liberal Democrat Leader Nick Clegg has issued a stark warning that BLUKIP, an alliance of right wing Tories, UKIP, and the DUP, could hold the balance of power after the election.

He said:

“Everyone knows that David Cameron and Ed Miliband won’t win this general election outright.

“That means that someone else will hold the balance of power on 8 May.

“The prospect of a left wing alliance between Labour and the SNP has been well covered.

“What’s equally possible is an alliance that will drag Britain further and further to the right:

“BLUKIP – a bloc of right wingers from UKIP, the Conservatives and the DUP that could hold the balance of power.

“There is a very real danger that Nigel Farage and his friends could hold David Cameron to ransom.

“It is a right wing alliance that brings together people who don’t believe in climate change;

“who reject gay rights;

“who want the death penalty back;

“and people who want to scrap human rights legislation and privatise our schools and hospitals.

“You don’t have to take my word for it. The evidence is there for all to see.

“Listen to Conservative MP Edward Leigh, who described belief in climate change as a “thoroughly painful ideology” – one of a number of outspoken climate sceptics on the Tory and DUP benches.

“Listen to the DUP’s Ian Paisley Jr, who said: “I am pretty repulsed by gay and lesbianism.”

“Or his leader Nigel Dodds, who described the passing of equal marriage legislation as “a source of great shame”.

“Listen to Conservative MP Steve Baker, who argued that companies should be allowed to run schools for profit.

“Take the Conservatives’ Damien Green, or even Nigel Farage himself, who have argued for an insurance based NHS.

“Or Philip Hollobone, who said that immigrants “overwhelm our indigenous culture”.

“Or David Davies, who used the Charlie Hebdo massacre as an excuse to call for the Human Rights Act to be scrapped.

“Look at Tim Aker, rising star of UKIP and a candidate in Essex, who hired a former National Front candidate to run his office.

“Or take the Conservative backbench MPs who put their names to a Bill to bring back the death penalty.

“These are just some of the Conservative, UKIP and DUP politicians who share a backward-looking right wing agenda.

“With a hung parliament practically inevitable, there is a very real prospect that David Cameron may rely on these people to stay in No 10.

“You have all heard the mood music:

“David Cameron calling for UKIP supporters to come home to the Conservatives.

“Nigel Farage saying he would be prepared to prop up a Conservative government – and that more Tory MPs were preparing to follow Douglas Carswell and Mark Reckless in defecting to his party.

“You’ve seen the right wing of the Conservative Party become increasingly hard line the longer the last parliament went on.

“You’ve read the Alternative Queen’s speech written by right wing rebels which proposed banning the burqa, bringing back the death penalty and rolling back sexual harassment laws.

“You’ve heard Conservative MPs like Peter Bone, Adam Afriyie and Jacob Rees-Mogg call for pacts or deals with UKIP.

“And only yesterday there were reports of Nigel Farage opening ‘back channels’ with the Tories to discuss a post-election pact.

“The Tory right wing has been waiting for its moment to reclaim the Conservative Party for years.

“And, with the help of MPs from UKIP and the DUP, that moment may be about to come.

“Imagine what Britain could become if the Prime Minister has to bargain with Nigel Farage and his friends for votes.

“Our public services cut to the bone.

“Our communities divided.

“Our shared British values of decency, tolerance and generosity cast aside.

“Instead of Liberal Democrats holding the balance of power and using it to keep the Government in the liberal centre ground, Nigel Farage and his friends in the Conservatives and the DUP would drag Britain further and further to the right.

“So ask yourself this:

“Do you want Liberal Democrats to keep the Government in the centre or Nigel Farage and his friends forcing David Cameron to lurch to the right?

“Do you want a coalition with a conscience or a coalition with a grievance?

“There is a right wing threat to Britain.

“The only way to stop it is to make sure there are enough Liberal Democrat MPs to keep the next government anchored in the centre ground.

“Who holds the balance of power in Britain the morning after polling day matters.

“The only people standing between BLUKIP and real power are a small number of Liberal Democrat candidates.

“Today we are publishing a list of 20 marginal seats in Britain where a Conservative win could hand the keys to No 10 to BLUKIP.

“The only way to keep BLUKIP out of power is to vote for Liberal Democrat candidates like Mark Hunter here in Cheadle;

“Lisa Smart in Hazel Grove;

“Stephen Gilbert in St Austell and Newquay;

“and Steve Bradley in Bath.

“The only way to get a stronger economy and a fairer society is to vote Liberal Democrat on the 7th of May.”

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