Labour could lurch from crisis to crisis if it tried to form a "rainbow alliance" government with the Lib Dems as partners, a former Kent MP has warned.

Dr Steve Ladyman, former Thanet South MP, said he doubted whether Labour could hold together a coalition with the Lib Dems and others without lurching from crisis to crisis.

His comments come after a day of drama at Westminster that saw Gordon Brown announce his intention to relinquish his role as party leader and stand down.

Dr Ladyman, who lost his seat last Thursday to the Conservatives, said: "I just do not see how the arithmetic adds up.

"Even if you can get the numbers, you would still be in the hands of backbenchers who want to rebel against something.

"The last thing I want is for a Labour government to be in the hands of a couple of backbenchers when it comes to the tough decisions.

"It could lead to another general election very quickly."

The three main parties are continuing to hold talks over the next government, with the Lib Dems facing a choice of siding with either the Conservatives or Labour.

Asked if it would be better for Labour to be in opposition, he said: "A Labour-Lib Dem coalition would be better for the country, I've no doubt about that.

"But it would have to be a coalition that could survive for at least two years."

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Meanwhile, a newly-elected Conservative MP said a pact with the Lib Dems remained a possibility but said he had misgivings about the way Nick Clegg had agreed to talks with Labour.

Rocherster and Strood MP Mark Reckless (Con) said he shared the view of former Labour heavyweight David Blunkett that the Liberal Democrats were "behaving like every harlot in history".

However, he said that he still believed that the Conservatives could reach a deal with the Lib Dems but added: "It would be a travesty to have a referendum on how we administer the electoral system without having a referendum on whether we should allow ourselves to be governed by Europe.

"It would be better for us to have a formal coalition - it would mean a stronger government.

"If we end up with a coalition of losers, that would be hugely damaging for the country."

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In another development, a leading Lib Dem candidate in Kent said he would struggle to support any agreement that did not involve an explicit commitment to change the voting system.

Peter Carroll, who contested the Maidstone and Weald seat and came second, said: "I have spent all my life in Kent fighting the Conservatives because I think there are big differences between us.

"I totally accept that the national interest has to come first but I would really struggle with anything less than a [pledge] for a referendum on proportional representation.

"It is putting the country first because we have a system at the moment where the problem is that we end up with governments who feel they can do what they like.

"I know many, many people in Kent in the party who would not be happy if there is no commitment to PR.

"Without it, they will struggle to accept any deal."

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