Nick Clegg says the Tories are telling 'big, fat fibs' about being able to win a majority

The Liberal Democrat leader says David Cameron's party privately admits they can’t win a majority

The Liberal Democrats have said they would only enter another coalition if Cameron softens his stance on human rights and benefit cuts (Getty) (Getty Images)

The Conservatives privately admit they cannot win a majority at the general election, Nick Clegg has said.

The Liberal Democrat leader accusing the Tories of “basically” lying about their chances at the election and said “everybody knows” the electoral feat would be impossible.

“I've never met a senior Conservative who's told me privately they think they're going to win this election outright. They're now basically communicating a big, fat fib that they are going to win a majority with 23 seats. They're not. They need 323 seats. They're not going to get 323 seats. Everybody knows that,” he told Sky News.

“So Cameron has taken to lying on Tory [majority]. [Nick Clegg] told me that Cameron privately admitted to him that the Tories won't win a majority,” Lord Scriven tweeted this morning.

Asked by BBC News whether he stood by his tweet, the peer said that he did.

When questioned about his ally’s tweet Mr Clegg said he would not reveal the details of a private conversation with the Prime Minister.

This morning it emerged that David Cameron and other senior Conservatives are planning for the possibility of a minority government, according to senior Conservatives.

The revelation comes despite a claim by the Prime Minister last week at televised BBC Q&A event that he was aiming for a “majority Conservative government”.

Polls currently suggest no party is likely to win a majority of the popular vote.

The Scottish National Party, which is likely to hold the balance of power, has said it will not support a Conservative government, however, giving Labour an advantage in the case of a dead heat.