Not every politician is in favour of coalition government or of abandoning the first-past-the-post voting system.

The leader of Tory-controlled Tunbridge Wells council, Cllr Roy Bullock, said: "I think what we are seeing going on now just demonstrates the difficulties with a coalition government. You see all this trading that has to go on to try to accommodate the differences between the parties. Italy is infamous for this type government. What we see now is a forewarning of what there may be to come."

Cllr Bullock said: "I far prefer the first-past-the-post system, but we watch what happens in Westminster with interest."

First-past-the-post suits the Tories well in Tunbridge Wells, where Cllr Bullock’s party holds 42 of the 48 seats.