Independent Backs Tory-Lib Dem Coalition

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The Independent has surprised political observers by backing a Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition government if there is another hung parliament.

The newspaper, owned by Russian media tycoon Alexander Lebedev, said a minority Labour administration reliant on the support of the SNP would be "a disaster for the country".

Ed Miliband's opposition appear "unready for government" and there would be "justified fury" if nationalists wanting to break up the UK were to wield power, it said in an editorial.

"For all its faults, another Lib-Con coalition would both prolong recovery and give our kingdom a better chance of continued existence," it said.

"This title casts no vote. But we prize strong, effective government, consider nationalism guilty until proven innocent, and say that if the present coalition is to get another chance, we hope it is much less conservative, and much more liberal."

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It said a hung parliament was "certain" for Thursday's General Election, and added: "For all his talk of no deals with the SNP, Miliband is bound to rely on that party to get his legislative programme through.

"This would be a disaster for the country, unleashing justified fury in England at the decisive influence of MPs who - unlike this title - do not wish the Union to exist.

"If that were to be the case while Labour were the second biggest party either in terms of vote share, or seats - or both - how could Labour govern with authority? They could not."

Mr Miliband had conducted an "impressive campaign", the newspaper conceded, "yet in key areas his policy prescriptions suggest a party unready for government".

It highlighted the cut in tuition fees, rent controls and the mansion tax as examples.

The newspaper was also critical of the smaller parties.

It described the Greens as "economically illiterate" and said UKIP "have contributed important ideas on freedom, but are essentially at war with globalisation and modernity".

While the SNP was "an agent of change, with impressive leaders in both Alex Salmond and Nicola Sturgeon", it was "a wrecking ball poised to hit Westminster".

It said despite the "gnashing of teeth" that greeted its creation in 2010, the coalition had "governed competently" and left the UK "more indebted and less influential, but stable and growing".

It criticised the Tories, saying "the young have been unfairly targeted to protect the old, the record on house-building is dire and the NHS mismanaged".