Lib Dems Want 'Proper' Public Sector Pay Rise

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Nick Clegg laid down more red lines for his party's participation in any future government as he warned he is not prepared to tear the Liberal Democrats apart to enter into a second coalition with the Conservatives.

The Deputy Prime Minister said it would be a "disaster" if the party splits under pressure to support the Tories in what looks destined to be another hung parliament.

In a move designed to let potential partners and voters know what issues he will not budge on, Mr Clegg insisted he will make pay increases for public sector workers a priority in any coalition talks.

He said: "After five years of pay restraint, teachers, nurses, police officers and all those who work in the public sector should no longer face pay cuts and will be offered light at the end of the tunnel.

"The contribution of our public sector workers is the cornerstone of a fair and decent society.

"Public sector workers have played an important role in helping get the economy on track and Liberal Democrats want to give them the pay guarantee they need.

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"We would introduce a minimum pay increase in line with inflation for the next two years, and guarantee real terms increases in pay once the books have been balanced."

Lib Dem cabinet minister Danny Alexander told Sky's Murnaghan programme that a "proper pay increase" for public sector workers was "frankly only fair" given the sacrifices made to tackle the deficit.

"Public sector workers have seen - and it's been necessary as part of what we've been doing in government to balance the books - have seen below inflation pay rises throughout the entirety of this parliament," he said.

"Many saw a pay freeze, and then all have seen their pay increase by only 1%. And what we're saying is their pay needs to improve beyond that over the next couple of years and then after that we can see above inflation pay rises again."

:: Lib Dem 'Red Lines' Seek To Restore Trust

Pay and a demand to tackle climate change are the latest red lines after protecting education spending, a stability budget, increasing NHS funding by £8bn a year and raising the personal tax allowance to £12,500.

While issuing what Mr Clegg calls his non-negotiable demands may assuage fears among some in the Liberal Democrat party, many are wary of a second pact with the Tories - especially as David Cameron is committed to a referendum on Britain's membership of the EU, which they bitterly oppose.

Mr Clegg is all too aware of the hit his party has taken from coalition, with the polls looking grim just days before people vote.

But he insisted again on Sunday that he did the right thing in putting country above party - and, publicly at least, he remains optimistic that the Lib Dems will do better than predicted.

He says he wants to "finish the job" and the Lib Dems are the only ones who can keep the Conservatives or Labour centred.

But he said he is not desperate to be in government at any cost, even if his party was the most obvious one on the table.

This time he may choose to put party first.