article_snippet.sent: Nick Clegg told voters to go to the ballot box on May 7 expecting a hung parliament, with no one party able to secure an overall majority of MPs in the Commons.
article_snippet.sent: However, Nick Clegg sought to make the case for only the Lib Dems working with Labour or the Conservatives, without having to rely on MPs from other smaller parties.
article_snippet.sent: Mr Clegg today joined Lib Dem MP Mark Hunter as they  met
article_snippet.sent: Today Mr Clegg said the idea would not have worked then and will not work this time as the idea would be made up of single issue parties 'puling this way and
article_snippet.sent: But with opinion polls pointing overwhelmingly towards a hung parliament and significant losses for the Lib Dems, it may be the only way Mr Clegg can fulfil Mr Clegg goal of playing a role in the next government.
article_snippet.sent: Mr Clegg said the presence of seven leaders in tonight's election TV debate was an indication of the likelihood that no party would win an outright majority in 2015.
article_snippet.sent: But Mr Clegg insisted that having the Lib Dems around the cabinet table with either Labour or the Tories would keep the next government anchored in the centre ground and prevent Ed Miliband or David Cameron 'lurching one way or another'.
article_snippet.sent: Mr Clegg said: 'A coalition was not on the ballot paper last time.
article_snippet.sent: Mr Clegg added: 'Having Liberal Democrats around the table is a good thing, because we keep the government in the centre ground rather than allowing particularly the two larger parties to lurch one way or the other.'
article_snippet.sent: Pressed on whether Mr Clegg would prefer a deal with Labour or the Tories, Mr Clegg said Mr Clegg personal views were 'completely irrelevant'.
article_snippet.sent: Mr Clegg said: 'I don't think that my whims or wishes or my feelings or my likes or dislikes about this or that other party leader ... this or that other party leader are literally completely irrelevant. '