I’d support Tories in hung parliament, says Oaten (From Hampshire Chronicle)

I’d support Tories in hung parliament, says Oaten

5:50pm Monday 15th February 2010 in News By Andrew Napier

I’d support Tories in hung parliament, says Oaten

WINCHESTER MP Mark Oaten said he favours an alliance with the Tories in the event of a hung Parliament.

Mr Oaten has come out against Labour if the Liberal Democrats hold the balance of power after the next election, expected in May.

He told BBC1’s The Politics Show last Sunday: “I would be reluctant to prop up a fourth term Labour government, I’d need a lot of convincing that they had new, fresh ideas, and not just leave our country dithering.”

Mr Oaten said he once toyed with the idea of switching to the Conservatives.

“I had a difficult relationship with the party (Lib Dems), they were suspicious of me, and there was a time when I was frustrated by their lack of ambition.

“I saw what I perceived to be a change in the way that the Conservatives were developing and yes, I was tempted to think; was I in the right party? Should I be picking up the phone to David Cameron and switching?

“It would have hit a few headlines at the time, but was it the right thing? No it wasn’t.

“It took a few people around me talking about the party, and what I really cared about to make me realise.”

Meanwhile, Mr Oaten has had the final bill from the MPs’ expenses saga.

Sir Thomas Legg has demanded he repay £2,826 for overpayments on mortgage interest.

Eastleigh MP Chris Huhne was asked to return £1,152 for gardening claims.

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