THE new Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government could break down within six months, Wyre Forest’s Labour candidate has claimed.

Nigel Knowles, who came third in last Thursday’s General Election in the district, said he believed Lib Dem MPs would begin joining the Labour Party in protest at public service cuts.

But Neville Farmer, Wyre Forest’s Lib Dem candidate, explained he hoped the new deal would provide a “stable government”.

He said: “This is a very strange situation but it’s what the election came up with and I hope we can work together in a positive way.”

David Cameron became Prime Minister on Tuesday night following days of talks between the major parties.

He vowed to put aside party differences and started appointing members of his first cabinet from among the Tories and Lib Dems.

Discussions between Labour and the Lib Dems broke down on Tuesday afternoon.

Mr Knowles said he thought it was “best” for Labour to “wipe the slate clean” after 13 years in government and start again as an opposition party.

He went on: “The cuts programme I expect to be introduced will be intolerable to many Lib Dem MPs.

“There are also Lib Dem policies on civil liberties and green issues that the Tories aren’t really interested in.

“There could be an election as early as October and we will be up for that. We will have a new party leader and I believe Labour will win.”

Mr Farmer, who came fourth in Wyre Forest, with 6,040 votes, said he was happy his party now had a say in national policies instead of being “stuck on the sidelines”.

Although he admitted the coalition would not have an immediate effect on Wyre Forest, he said businesses needed to maintain “strong links” with Europe.

“It would be bad if the Conservatives undermine our position on Europe,” he explained. “Sealine and Brintons export largely to Europe and there are a lot of jobs involved there.”

Mr Knowles claimed the coalition made his job “easier”, as he could now work towards winning the next election, if he was chosen as Labour’s candidate.

“I hope that any anti-Tory voters will now move towards Labour,” he added.

Mr Farmer went on: “The priority should be “co-operation” and working on rebuilding the economy.

“We have to look at the practical side of things now.We have to concentrate on the Lib Dems having a positive influence in government.”