The centrist Liberal Democrats appeared to hold the balance of power, and stories circulated of how Heath was prepared to concede a reformed voting system. He held out the promise of proportional representation, which would ensure a greater number of parliamentary seats for the Liberal Democrats in future elections, in exchange for the party’s support for a new Conservative government.
大选使英国政治陷入僵局。中间派自由民主党最初采取均势策略，坊间则传言希思准备推动选举制度改革，说他许诺建立比例代表制，方便自由民主党在未来大选中获取更多议席，以换取后者支持保守党重新组阁。