NORMAN Lamb, the English Health Minister, has said he does not see Ed Miliband as Prime Minister and warned it would be dangerous to go into coalition with Labour on a low share of the vote.
The Norfolk MP pointed out that it would be difficult to sustain a partnership with Labour if the Conservatives came second in terms of seats yet won most votes.
Already senior Lib Dem figures have suggested a Coalition Mark 2 with David Cameron's Conservatives is more likely than forming a government with Mr Miliband's party.
"There is the possibility that you could have Labour as the largest number of seats but the Tories as the largest number of votes. If there is any possibility of Labour in that situation going into coalition with the Lib Dems - the parties coming second and fourth - you would have zero honeymoon," Mr Lamb told a fringe meeting.
"You would be attacked from the start and it would be very hard to sustain."
The Minister said to applause: "It is a political point but it is one this party has to take very seriously; I'm afraid I don't see Ed Miliband as a prime minister."
Mr Lamb added: "The idea of us being latched into a Labour government with a low percentage of the vote could be enormously damaging for our party.
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