THE TELEGRAPH: A hung parliament is now a certainty as the final votes across the country are counted up.
It could be days before the final make-up of government is decided. Nick Clegg has offered few hints as to whether he would participate in a Labour or Conservative alliance. David Cameron is "happy to talk" with other parties, including the Liberal Democrat leader, according to Michael Gove the shadow education secretary.
He said: "It is certainly the case that David Cameron is happy to talk to people in other parties in order to ensure that we can have a strong, stable, Conservative-led government to provide the country with the change it needs."
He added: "I stress it is for David Cameron to decide with whom we should work. We do not yet know the basis on which the new Parliament will be constructed entirely, we don't know the precise arithmetic."
Meanwhile senior Labour ministers have begun making overtures to Gordon Brown themselves.
Asked if Labour would do a deal to stay in power, Lord Mandelson said: “The constitutional conventions are very clear. The rules are that if it’s a hung parliament, it’s not the party with the largest number of seats that has first go - it’s the sitting government.”
Pressed again on whether he would do a deal with the Lib Dems to hold on to power, he said: “I have no problem in principle in trying to supply this country with a strong and stable government.”
David Cameron called on Gordon Brown to stand aside today after the Tories made significant gains across England and Wales in the closest general election for a generation. >>> Andrew Porter and Robert Winnett | Friday, May 07, 2010
TIMES ONLINE: Gordon Brown was back in Downing Street today as Britain woke to the uncertainties of its first hung Parliament for 36 years.
As counting wrapped up in the few dozen seats yet to declare, David Cameron's Tories were on course to become the largest party in the Commons but about 20 seats short of the 326 needed for a majority.
Mr Brown made clear that he had no intention of giving up power easily – his passage through Britain's most famous front door at 7am was a symbolic reminder that he remains Prime Minister and has the constitutional right to form a government.
Nick Clegg, the Liberal Democrat leader, admitted that his party had had a disappointing night, losing seats to both the Tories and Labour despite the excitement it had generated during the campaign.
He may yet emerge as a kingmaker, however, from a wildly unpredictable night in which the biggest dramas were in seats held against the odds rather than trophy scalps. >>> Philippe Naughton and Roland Watson | Friday, May 07, 2010
TRIBUNE DE GENÈVE: Victoire sans majorité pour les conservateurs de David Cameron : Les conservateurs sont bien arrivés en tête, mais sans majorité absolue selon des résultats provisoires, rien n’indique que ce sera leur leader David Cameron qui occupera le 10 Downing street. >>> AP | Vendredi 07 Mai 2010
NZZ ONLINE: Die Briten haben gewählt – aber nicht entschieden: Cameron in Führung ohne absolute Mehrheit – Brown will bleiben >>> spi. | Freitag, 07. Mai 2010
