Sir Keir Starmer stokes fears of Lib Dem pact by refusing ELEVEN times to rule out coalition with Sir Ed Davey

SIR Keir Starmer threw the door open to a coalition stitch-up with Sir Ed Davey of the Lib Dems – refusing ELEVEN times to rule it out.

The Labour leader stoked fears of a backroom pact to make him PM if he falls short of an outright majority as pollsters predict. 

PA

He was adamant he would never get into bed with the SNP after their leader bragged about “pulling the strings” of a weak Starmer administration.

The Scottish nationalist have said unpicking Brexit would be their price to prop up Labour in government as well as another referendum on breaking up the UK.

But in a series of broadcast interview Sir Keir yesterday refused to snuff out speculation of a deal with Lib Dem boss Sir Ed.

He told Sky News: “Well, look, I’m going for an outright majority, and I’m often asked, you know, will you do a deal with the SNP, and I’ve been absolutely clear, there are no terms on which we would do a deal with the SNP. I want to push on to a Labour majority.”

Pressed on a Lab-Lib pact, he squirmed: “Well, look, I’m not answering hypotheticals, but, you know, we want, we are aiming for a Labour majority.”

After stonewalling seven questions, a rattled Sir Keir snapped at interviewer Beth Rigby: “Beth, you can ask me as many times as you like.”

Later on the BBC he brushed away four further challenges, saying: “Absolutely there is no basis for a deal at all with the SNP because of their politics of separation.

“I do not believe it’s in the best interest of the United Kingdom. Now, obviously, you asked me about the Lib Dems and other scenarios. These are hypotheticals for the future.”

Sir Ed has also hinted he would form an alliance with Labour in government.

Analysis of last week’s local elections puts Labour on course to be just shy of a majority at next year’s general election.

Despite Rishi Sunak’s ballot box drubbing, projections show Sir Keir does not yet have the support to carry him to No10. 

He was dealt a further blow yesterday as a YouGov poll showed just 3 per cent of 2019 Tory voters are deserting the party because they think he would make a better PM.

A whopping 30 per cent of Boris Johnson’s voters are jumping ship because they think “the Conservatives are doing a bad job”.

Some 15 per cent say there is a “need for change”, 11 per cent say they “no longer trust” the Tories and 10 per cent believe “Labour are the best of a bad bunch”.

Only 8 per cent say “Labour are the best alternative”, 5 per cent that they are “in touch with every day people” and 3 per cent because “Keir Starmer would be a better PM”, according to the Times Radio survey.

Sir Keir yesterday ordered his tranche of newly elected council leaders to come up with cost of living measures.

Possible proposals include free bus travel to under-19s, and to start building genuinely affordable housing on council land.