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{{short description|Working arrangement in British politics}}
In British politics, a '''Lib–Lab pact''' is a working arrangement between the [[Liberal Democrats (UK)|Liberal Democrats]] (in previous times, the [[Liberal Party (UK)|Liberal Party]]) and the [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]].

There have been four such arrangements, and one alleged proposal, at the national level. In many [[Local government in the United Kingdom|local councils in the UK]] there are similar arrangements, although there are also arrangements where the Lib Dems and Labour oppose each other and instead form a local alliance with another party or with independent councillors.

==19th century==
{{main|Liberal-Labour (UK)}}
Before the [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]] had been formed, various candidates stood for [[Parliament of the United Kingdom|Parliament]] with backing from both the [[Liberal Party (UK)|Liberal Party]] and the [[Labour Representation League]]; these included [[Thomas Burt]], [[Henry Broadhurst|Harry Broadhurst]] and [[Alexander Macdonald (Lib-Lab politician)|Alexander Macdonald]]. These MPs were referred to as "Lib–Lab", although there was not a formal pact.

This agreement eventually fell apart with the formation of the [[Independent Labour Party]] and the [[British Labour Party#Labour Representation Committee (1900–1906)|Labour Representation Committee]].

==20th century==

===1903===
{{main|Gladstone–MacDonald pact}}
In 1903, an agreement was made between [[Herbert Gladstone]] (then Chief Whip of the Liberal Party) and [[Ramsay MacDonald]] (Secretary of the [[British Labour Party#Labour Representation Committee (1900–1906)|Labour Representation Committee]]) that, in thirty constituencies, the Labour Party and the Liberal Party would not stand against each other, and thus would avoid the risk of splitting their vote. As a result of this agreement, in contests against the [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative Party]], 29 Labour MPs were returned at the [[1906 United Kingdom general election|1906 general election]].

===1924===
At the [[1923 United Kingdom general election|1923 general election]], both parties campaigned on the issue of [[free trade]]. The Conservative Party, which had campaigned to introduce [[protective tariff]]s, lost its parliamentary majority but remained the largest party in the [[British House of Commons|House of Commons]]. The Liberals agreed to enable the formation of the first Labour minority government in 1924, under the leadership of Prime Minister Ramsay MacDonald. The minority government lasted a little over nine months; Conservative [[Stanley Baldwin]] succeeded MacDonald as Prime Minister.

===1929===
At the [[1929 United Kingdom general election|1929 general election]], Labour won the greatest number of seats, but did not have a parliamentary majority. The now-much-weakened Liberals allowed the formation of the second Labour government by not aligning with the Conservatives to defeat the new government.

===1977===
{{multiple image
| image1 = Prime Minister James Callaghan (cropped).jpg
| image2 = DavidSteel1987 cropped.jpg
| total_width = 350px
| caption1 = Prime Minister and [[Leader of the Labour Party (UK)|Leader of the Labour Party]], [[James Callaghan]]
| caption2 = [[Leader of the Liberal Party (UK)|Leader of the Liberal Party]], [[David Steel]]
}}
In March 1977, the Labour government – lacking a majority following a by-election defeat – faced a [[Confidence motions in the United Kingdom|motion of no confidence]]. In order to remain in office, Prime Minister [[James Callaghan]] approached the Liberal Party, at the time led by [[David Steel]]. Former Foreign Secretary Callaghan had been Prime Minister for just one year, having succeeded [[Harold Wilson]] who had led Labour to a three-seat majority at the [[October 1974 United Kingdom general election|October 1974 general election]].

An agreement was negotiated, under the terms of which the Labour Party accepted a limited number of Liberal Party policy proposals and in exchange, the Liberal Party agreed to vote with the government in any subsequent motion of no confidence. This "pact" was the first official bi-party agreement since the [[Second World War]] (there would be [[Cameron–Clegg coalition|a Conservative–Lib Dem coalition]] following the 2010 general election), though it was far short of a coalition. The Lib–Lab Pact's end was confirmed on 7 September 1978,<ref>{{cite news |title=1978: Callaghan accused of running scared |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/september/7/newsid_2502000/2502781.stm |publisher=[[BBC News]] |date=7 September 1978}}</ref> by which time Callaghan was expected to call a general election, but instead he decided to remain as leader of a [[minority government]]. This government fell after a vote of no confidence was passed by one vote in March 1979, whereby Callaghan was forced to hold a [[1979 United Kingdom general election|general election in May]], in which [[Margaret Thatcher]] led the Conservatives into power.

===Proposed coalition of 1997===
In the lead-up to the [[1997 United Kingdom general election|1997 general election]], a coalition government was discussed by [[Tony Blair]] and the Lib Dems, according to [[Paddy Ashdown]]'s ''The Ashdown Diaries''. Ashdown, a strong proponent of a Lib–Lab coalition, said that from Blair's point of view, in order to get the Conservatives out of power and because he wanted to move his party towards the [[New Labour]] ideal, a coalition would strengthen his majority in the likely event of a victory. To get the Liberal Democrats into his Cabinet, he allegedly agreed on their terms of [[electoral reform]]. Blair was still considering attempting to form a coalition government with the Liberal Democrats on the day of the general election, until the full scale of his Labour Party's majority became clear at 03:05 on the morning of 2 May 1997; ending eighteen years of Conservative rule.<ref>{{cite news |title=The Tony Blair story |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6506365.stm |first=Brian |last=Wheeler |publisher=BBC News |date=2007-05-10 |access-date=2007-05-14}}</ref> Encouraged by former [[Social Democratic Party (UK)|SDP]] leader [[Roy Jenkins]], Blair still considered bringing the Lib Dems into the Cabinet after his election victory, as he believed this would help to create a [[political realignment]] on the centre-left and usher in a period of left-wing unity, and only reneged after Deputy Prime Minister [[John Prescott]] threatened to resign over the issue in 1998.<ref>{{cite news |last=Watt |first=Nicholas |author-link=Nicholas Watt |date=23 October 2000 |title=Prescott dismisses coalition 'dreams' |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2000/oct/23/uk.labour1 |access-date=7 February 2024 |work=The Guardian}}</ref>

==21st century==

===Proposed coalition of 2010===
After the [[hung parliament]] resulting from the [[2010 United Kingdom general election|2010 general election]], the Liberal Democrats, as they had indicated they would do so prior to the election,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/clegg-reveals-lib-dems-are-prepared-to-back-cameron-1825917.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220614/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/clegg-reveals-lib-dems-are-prepared-to-back-cameron-1825917.html |archive-date=2022-06-14 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Clegg reveals Lib Dems are prepared to back Cameron |location=London |work=The Independent |first=Michael |last=Savage |date=2009-11-23}}</ref> first began negotiations with the Conservatives—the party that had won the most votes and seats—about the possibility of forming a government; but, after talks appeared to have stalled, complementary negotiations were undertaken with Labour.

Labour's delegation for negotiations included: [[Peter Mandelson]], [[Andrew Adonis, Baron Adonis|Andrew Adonis]], [[Ed Miliband]] and [[Ed Balls]]. Press rumours of a possible Lib Dem–Labour deal were publicised, with Prime Minister [[Gordon Brown]] alleged to be willing to offer to legislate for a change to the [[Instant-runoff voting|alternative vote]] system, followed by a referendum on proportional representation, if an arrangement that would keep him in government could be agreed.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/8674103.stm |publisher=BBC News |title=Labour 'ready to concede defeat' |date=2010-05-11}}</ref>

A Lib–Lab coalition would, however, have been eight seats short of a majority.<ref name=travis>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2010/may/10/how-rival-coalition-deals-might-work |location=London |work=The Guardian |first=Alan |last=Travis |title=Con-Lib or Lib-Lab – how the rival coalition deals might work |date=2010-05-10}}</ref> A coalition of Labour, the Liberal Democrats, the [[Social Democratic and Labour Party|SDLP]], [[Plaid Cymru]], the [[Alliance Party of Northern Ireland]] and the [[Green Party of England and Wales|Green Party]]—a "rainbow" or "traffic light" coalition—would have been needed to give a working majority of one.<ref name=travis /> For this, amongst other reasons, the talks failed. On the collapse of talks with Labour, a deal between the Liberal Democrats and the Conservative Party was reached (subsequently being approved by Liberal Democrats members at a special party conference).

There was a significant level of hostility to such a deal within the Labour Party, with coalition proposals being opposed by, among others, former Cabinet ministers [[John Reid, Baron Reid of Cardowan|John Reid]] and [[David Blunkett]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/wintour-and-watt/2010/may/11/coalition-talks-libdem-labour-deal |location=London |work=The Guardian |first=Patrick |last=Wintour |title=Coalition talks: Labour revolt may scupper deal with Liberal Democrats |date=2010-05-11}}</ref> John Reid said that such a coalition would be "bad for the country".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rR_prPtIPQo |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/rR_prPtIPQo |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|title=John Reid: Lib-Lab coalition 'bad for the country' |publisher=ITN News @ YouTube |date=10 May 2010}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

[[David Laws]], chief negotiator for the Liberal Democrats in coalition negotiations, subsequently commented on Labour's preparation and conduct in negotiations; his main areas of criticism centred on Labour's lack of contrition about their record over the previous thirteen years, inadequate preparation for discussions, their unwillingness to accommodate Liberal Democrat policy proposals in the potential programme for government, and the arrogant and patronising attitude of specific key Labour figures. He said that whilst he felt Gordon Brown was quite serious about pursuing talks, he believed former minister Ed Balls was deliberately "sabotaging" them.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/somerset/hi/people_and_places/newsid_9216000/9216731.stm |publisher=BBC News |first=Ruth |last=Bradley |title=Balls "sabotaged" coalition talks |date=2010-11-23}}</ref>

===Possible coalition after 2015 general election===
[[Nick Clegg]] stated his opinion prior to the 2010 general election that the party which wins the most seats but fails to get an absolute majority in the house has the right to attempt to form a government first, either on their own or in a coalition.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/election_2010/8614630.stm |title=Clegg does not rule out Lib Dems joining any coalition |publisher=BBC News |date=13 April 2010}}</ref> He stated his willingness to work with the Labour Party if it won a plurality of the votes in 2015.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/nick-clegg/9419460/Nick-Clegg-I-would-form-coalition-with-Labour-after-election.html |title=Clegg would form coalition with Labour after election|location=London |work=The Telegraph |first=Tim |last=Ross |date=23 July 2012}}</ref> However, some reports said it was unlikely that this would happen under the leadership of Nick Clegg, as both Ed Miliband and Ed Balls voiced discontent with Nick Clegg over his partnership with David Cameron.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/depose-clegg-if-you-want-a-lib-lab-coalition-balls-tells-lib-dems-nt0rx5x5qpz |title=Depose Clegg if you want a Lib Lab coalition, Balls tells Lib Dems |location=London |work=The Times |first=Michael |last=Savage |date=10 September 2012}}</ref> Later reports indicated that Miliband and Balls were more relaxed with the thought of a Lib–Lab government after the 2015 election. According to an article in ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]'', a shadow Cabinet minister who was close to Miliband said: "Our activists really hate Clegg. But if having him as Deputy Prime Minister was the price of getting Ed into Number 10 then they would have to stick it." For years, Miliband is said to have refused to speak to Clegg,<ref>{{cite news|last1=Wintour|first1=Patrick|last2=Syal|first2=Rajeev|date=17 February 2014|title=Ed Miliband snubs Clegg's openness to Lab-Lib pact after 2015 general election|url=http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/feb/17/ed-miliband-labour-liberal-democrats-coalition|access-date=2020-12-27|website=The Guardian}}</ref> although relations thawed as the 2015 election grew closer. A senior party figure said, "The contact is there and the leaders' offices are now in touch." Senior members of Miliband's team, including Lord Adonis, the former Cabinet minister, had been urging him privately to prepare for fresh coalition negotiations after the 2015 general election because opinion polls suggested no party would win an outright majority in 2015.<ref>{{cite news |first=Tim |last=Ross |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/labour/10776524/Ed-Miliband-would-let-Nick-Clegg-keep-his-job-in-Lib-Lab-pact.html |title=Ed Miliband would let Nick Clegg keep his job in Lib-Lab pact |date=19 April 2014 |newspaper=[[The Daily Telegraph]]}}</ref>

In 2014, Lib Dem minister [[Norman Lamb]] warned that "it could be enormously damaging for [the Lib Dems]" if the party went into coalition with Miliband's Labour.<ref>{{cite news|last=Mason|first=Rowena|date=5 October 2014|title=Senior Lib Dem Norman Lamb warns against coalition with Labour|url=http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/oct/05/senior-lib-dem-norman-lamb-warns-against-coalition-labour|access-date=27 December 2020|website=[[The Guardian]]}}</ref> However, neither a coalition nor a pact between the Lib Dems and Labour was possible, following the Conservatives winning a majority at the 2015 general election and the loss of 49 Liberal Democrat seats. The scale of victory was unexpected by all major polls, and this was the first time a Conservative majority government had been formed in 23 years.<ref>{{cite news |last=Cowling |first=David |date=17 May 2015 |title=Election 2015: How the opinion polls got it wrong |publisher=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-32751993 |access-date=27 December 2020}}</ref>

===Possible coalition after 2019 general election===
[[Jo Swinson]], the Liberal Democrat leader, hinted at a possible alliance after the [[2019 United Kingdom general election|2019 general election]] in the event that [[Jeremy Corbyn]] resigned as Labour leader.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.sky.com/story/general-election-jo-swinson-hints-she-would-work-with-labour-if-jeremy-corbyn-quit-11881661|title=General election: Jo Swinson hints she would work with Labour if Jeremy Corbyn quit|last=Taylor|first=Rebecca|date=9 December 2019|website=Sky News}}</ref> Once again, this was not possible, because the Conservatives received a majority of seats at the election, meaning that a Lib–Lab pact would be below the majority mark.

===Possible coalition after the 2024 general election===
After the [[2023 United Kingdom local elections|2023 local elections]], in which both Labour and Liberal Democrats made gains. Both [[Keir Starmer]], the Labour leader, and [[Ed Davey]], the Liberal Democrat leader, refused to rule out a possible alliance after the [[2024 United Kingdom general election|2024 general election]].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Adu|first1=Aletha|last2=Walker|first2=Peter|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2023/may/09/keir-starmer-refuses-to-rule-out-lib-dem-coalition-after-next-election|title=Keir Starmer refuses to rule out Lib Dem coalition after next election|date=9 May 2023|website=The Guardian|access-date=10 May 2023}}</ref> On 13 June 2023, [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party National Campaign Coordinator]] [[Shabana Mahmood]] ruled out a Lib–Lab pact in the by-elections in [[2023 Mid Bedfordshire by-election|Mid Bedfordshire]], [[2023 Uxbridge and South Ruislip by-election|Uxbridge and South Ruislip]] and [[2023 Selby and Ainsty by-election|Selby and Ainsty]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gye |first=Chloe Chaplain, Hugo |date=2023-06-13 |title=Labour rules out Lib Dem pact and aims to win three by-elections - including Dorries's old seat |url=https://inews.co.uk/news/politics/labour-rules-out-lib-dem-pact-win-three-by-elections-dorries-mid-beds-2407386 |access-date=2023-06-15 |website=The Independent |language=en}}</ref>

==Welsh Parliament==
When the first elections to the new [[Senedd Cymru – Welsh Parliament|Welsh Assembly]] took place in [[1999 National Assembly for Wales election|1999]] no one party had an absolute majority, and initially Labour sought to run a minority administration. Following a series of close votes and much criticism of the weakness of the Assembly administration, Labour and the Liberal Democrats formed a coalition in October 2000 with the two parties sharing power, including ministerial appointments, with Labour the majority party. The agreement ended at the [[2003 National Assembly for Wales election|elections of 2003]] when Labour won 50% of the seats and decided to form a minority government.<ref>{{cite news|title=National Assembly 2003 Election Results|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/bsp/hi/vote2003/welsh_assembly/html/atoz.stm|access-date=29 December 2012|publisher=BBC News|date=2003-05-02}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=What happens in the event of no overall majority for any party?|url=http://www.assemblywales.org/gethome/vote2011/your-questions-answered.htm#aftertheelection|publisher=National Assembly For Wales|access-date=29 December 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140830025104/http://www.assemblywales.org/gethome/vote2011/your-questions-answered.htm#aftertheelection|archive-date=30 August 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref>

On 11 May 2016, following the [[2016 National Assembly for Wales election|2016 election]] six days earlier, when the governing [[Welsh Labour|Labour Party]] had 29 AMs elected, one fewer than in [[2011 National Assembly for Wales election|2011]] and two short of an overall majority, Welsh Assembly members failed to elect a new [[First Minister of Wales|First Minister]] on their return to the [[Senedd Cymru – Welsh Parliament|Senedd]], after the roll-call tied the vote at 29–29; [[Plaid Cymru]] nominated its leader [[Leanne Wood]], and won the backing of the [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservatives]] and [[UK Independence Party|UKIP]], while Labour's incumbent First Minister [[Carwyn Jones]] won the support of sole Liberal Democrat [[Kirsty Williams]], the only non-Labour member to back Jones in the tied vote for First Minister (and who, up until the day after the election, had been the leader of the [[Welsh Liberal Democrats]]), and his own party.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-politics-36269820|title=Welsh Assembly: Deadlock in vote for first minister |date=11 May 2016 |publisher=BBC News|language=en-GB|access-date=2016-05-20}}</ref> On 19 May 2016, after Jones was reinstalled unopposed as First Minister, following a deal with Plaid Cymru,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-36312517|title=Carwyn Jones reappointed first minister after Labour-Plaid deal|date=18 May 2016 |publisher=BBC News|access-date=2016-05-20}}</ref> Williams was named [[Department for Education and Skills (Wales)|Cabinet Secretary for Education]] in Jones's new [[Welsh Government]]; her appointment as Education Secretary was subject to ratification by Liberal Democrat members at a special conference in [[Newtown, Powys]], on 21 May 2016 and was overwhelmingly approved.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-politics-36326335|title=Welsh Government includes Lib Dem Williams at education |date=19 May 2016 |publisher=BBC News|language=en-GB|access-date=2016-05-20}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/politics/kirsty-williams-confirmed-education-secretary-11366600|title=Kirsty Williams confirmed as Education Secretary in Carwyn Jones' cabinet|publisher=[[Wales Online]]|last=Jones|first=Ciaran|date=21 May 2016|access-date=3 July 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.libdemvoice.org/special-welsh-conference-votes-by-large-majority-to-back-kirsty-williams-as-education-minister-50667.html|title=+++80% of special Welsh conference members vote to back Kirsty Williams as Education Secretary in Welsh government|publisher=[[Lib Dem Voice]]|last=Walter|first=Paul|date=21 May 2016|access-date=3 July 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160529124224/http://www.libdemvoice.org/special-welsh-conference-votes-by-large-majority-to-back-kirsty-williams-as-education-minister-50667.html|archive-date=29 May 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Scottish Parliament==
{{main|Government of the 1st Scottish Parliament|Government of the 2nd Scottish Parliament}}
After the [[1999 Scottish Parliament election|first general election]] to the reconvened [[Scottish Parliament]] in 1999, the [[Scottish Liberal Democrats]] signed up to what was termed a "partnership government" with [[Scottish Labour|Labour]], with both parties providing ministers in a shared government.

Although standing on separate manifestos in the succeeding [[2003 Scottish Parliament election]] the joint working continued, with Labour's [[Jack McConnell]] serving as [[First Minister of Scotland|First Minister]], and the Lib Dems' [[Jim Wallace, Baron Wallace of Tankerness|Jim Wallace]] serving under him as [[Deputy First Minister of Scotland|Deputy First Minister]] (and [[Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong Learning]]) who was then succeeded by [[Nicol Stephen]] of the same party as Deputy First Minister.

The [[2007 Scottish Parliament election|Scottish Parliament general election of 2007]] saw the [[Scottish National Party]] (SNP) surpass Labour as the largest party by one seat.<ref name = "salmond"/> The Scottish Liberal Democrats decided against coalition with either the SNP or Labour, and abstained in the vote for First Minister, won by SNP leader [[Alex Salmond]].<ref name = "salmond">{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/6659531.stm |title=Salmond elected as first minister |publisher=BBC News |date=16 May 2007 |access-date=21 March 2015}}</ref>

==Gibraltarian Parliament==
The major UK political parties do not stand candidates for election in the [[Gibraltar Parliament]], but form affiliations with the local Gibraltarian parties, with the Liberal Democrats affiliating with the [[Liberal Party of Gibraltar]] (LPG) and Labour affiliating with the [[Gibraltar Socialist Labour Party]] (GSLP). The two parties formed the [[GSLP–Liberal Alliance]] in 2000 and together have been the government in power since 2011.

==Constitutional committee==
Whilst not a pact, ahead of the 1997 election Labour Leader Tony Blair and Lib Dem leader Paddy Ashdown set up the ''Labour-Liberal Democrat joint committee on constitutional reform'' to discuss devolution in Wales and Scotland, and led to Prime Minister Tony Blair setting up a joint Lib–Lab [[United Kingdom cabinet committee|cabinet committee]]. In part this led to the Scottish and Welsh alliances noted above. The committee was disbanded by Tony Blair and [[Charles Kennedy]] in September 2001.<ref>{{cite news|title=Lib-Lab Constitutional Reform Committee Disbanded|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/1554194.stm|access-date=29 December 2012|publisher=BBC News|date=2001-09-20}}</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|Liberalism|Socialism}}
*[[Conservative–DUP agreement]]
*[[Lib–Con pact]]
*[[Progressive alliance (UK)]]
*[[Purple (government)#Belgium and the Netherlands|Purple coalition]] ''(similar governing arrangement found in [[Belgium]] and the [[Netherlands]])''
*[[Lib-Lab-Con]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

{{UK Liberal Democrats}}
{{Liberal Party (UK)}}
{{UK Labour Party}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lib-Lab pact}}
[[Category:Coalition governments of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:History of the Labour Party (UK)]]
[[Category:History of the Liberal Democrats (UK)]]
[[Category:Liberal Party (UK)]]