Labour would try to form minority government if it is largest party
The party attempts to shut down claims a vote for Jeremy Corbyn would lead to a "coalition of chaos" propped up by other parties.
Thursday 1 June 2017 18:17, UK
Labour has said it will try to implement its programme as a minority government if it is the largest party in a hung parliament after the election.
Shadow foreign secretary Emily Thornberry said the party would not seek to enter into a coalition with other parties, but would present a Queen's Speech and Budget.
This high stakes move would effectively challenge other "progressive" parties to back Jeremy Corbyn's party or risk a return to Conservative rule.
Prime Minister Theresa May has repeatedly claimed that a vote for Mr Corbyn in next week's General Election would result in a "coalition of chaos" with Labour propped up by MPs from parties like the Liberal Democrats, Scottish National Party or Greens.
The possibility of a hung parliament has emerged in recent days as the opinion polls show a narrowing of the Conservatives' lead.
A new survey by YouGov for The Times suggests Labour is just three points behind, a gap that could result in no party having a majority.
Answering questions after a speech by Mr Corbyn in Basildon, Essex, Ms Thornberry was asked whether Labour would be ready to do a coalition deal - or even try to persuade MPs from Sinn Fein to attend the House of Commons in order to support them.
She replied: "The truth is we are fighting to win and we are fighting to win with a majority. That's what we are fighting to do.
"If we end up in a position where we are in a minority, we will go ahead and we will put forward a Queen's Speech and a Budget.
"If people want to vote for it, then good. If they don't want to vote for it, they are going to have to go back and speak to their constituents and explain to them why it is that we have a Tory government instead.
"If we are the largest party we go ahead - no deals - with our manifesto, our Budget and our Queen's Speech."
Mr Corbyn was more cautious when he tackled the question, but also insisted there would be no coalition deal.
"We are fighting every constituency to win this election, to form a Labour government," he said.
"We are not doing deals, we're not doing coalitions, we're not doing any agreements.
"We are fighting to win this election on a manifesto that I'm very proud of because it will fundamentally transform our society. That is what we are looking forward to doing on 9 June."
In his speech, Mr Corbyn delivered one of his strongest attacks yet on Mrs May's integrity - and asked voters to consider who they trusted more.
He said the Tories are "weak and wobbly" and cannot be believed after the PM's U-turn on her controversial social care reforms and her failure to set out how many pensioners stand to lose their winter fuel payments - policies that have been widely credited as a factor in the narrowing of the polls.
Mr Corbyn also turned his fire on the PM over Brexit, accusing her of risking a "jobs meltdown" with her hardline stance to negotiations that he said risked Britain crashing out of the EU without any deal at all.
"The Conservatives' reckless approach has left us isolated and marginalised, increasing the chances of Britain crashing out of the EU without a deal, which would be the worst possible outcome for Britain," he told a campaign event in Basildon.
"That would mean slapping tariffs on the goods we export - an extra 10% on cars - with the risk that key manufacturers would leave for the European mainland, taking skilled jobs with them.
"In sector after sector, 'no deal' could prove to be an economic disaster. Theresa May's approach risks a jobs meltdown across Britain."
Responding to Labour's comments on a hung parliament, Conservative chairman Sir Patrick McLoughlin said:
"The truth is out: Jeremy Corbyn will invite the other parties to prop him up as Prime Minister if there is a hung parliament on June 9.
"Brexit negotiations start 11 days after you vote, but instead of focusing on those negotiations, Corbyn would be busy haggling with Nicola Sturgeon and the Lib Dems. That will cause chaos."