The leader of the Liberal Democrats, Nick Clegg, shifted ground somewhat on Tuesday to assert that proportional representation, reform of the current first-past-the-post voting system which does not favor his party, was not an absolute demand for a coalition.
"I have never talked about preconditions for talks. I have always talked about the things I want to fight for, the changes I want to fight for," Clegg said in a TV interview.
"Yes, I want a new political system because I think the old one is bust."
Clegg needed to leave room for him to deal with the Conservatives if the general election results in a hung parliament with no party holding a majority of seats in the next House of Commons