Gordon Brown to resign as Prime Minister
LABOUR and Liberal Democrat negotiators met for their first formal discussions on a possible coalition government last night, after Prime Minister Gordon Brown announced he was stepping down as Labour leader.
Both sides described the talks in the House of Commons as "constructive" and it is expected that further discussions on a Lib/Lab pact will take place today.
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Gordon Brown
Mr Brown's announcement that Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg, pictured below, had requested formal talks with Labour shook Westminster after four days in which it appeared that the third party was coming close to a deal with Conservatives.
After David Cameron had addressed Conservative MPs on the developments, the Tories came out with a last-ditch bid to win Lib Dems back over to their side, making a final offer of a referendum on the Alternative Vote system to replace first-past-the-post for Westminster elections.
Meanwhile, speculation mounted over the Labour succession, with Foreign Secretary David Miliband, his brother the Energy Secretary Ed Miliband, Home Secretary Alan Johnson, deputy leader Harriet Harman and Schools Secretary Ed Balls all tipped as possible candidates for the leadership.
At a hastily-arranged Cabinet meeting in 10 Downing Street, the potential contenders agreed to hold back from announcing their candidacy until the resolution of talks over the future shape of the government.
Mr Brown said he had asked his party to start the formal mechanism to replace him, after insisting he was confident an administration could be formed with Lib Dem allies.
Mr Brown said: "The reason that we have a hung parliament is that no single party and no single leader was able to win the full support of the country.
"As leader of my party I must accept that as a judgment on me.
"I therefore intend to ask the Labour Party to set in train the processes needed for its own leadership election.
"I would hope that it would be completed in time for the new leader to be in post by the time of the Labour Party conference. I will play no part in that contest, I will back no individual candidate."
Stoke-on-Trent South MP Rob Flello said: "Mr Brown certainly hasn't had an easy time of things since taking over as leader; he's had everything from bird flu to Icelandic volcanoes to deal with.
"But I think that history will look back on him as one of the great leaders for the way he has steered us through those difficult times."
David Kidney, who lost his Stafford seat in the election, said: "When world leaders were running around like headless chickens during the financial crisis, it was Gordon who stepped forward with the plan to deal with the situation. Everyone around the world appreciates the leadership role he played."
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by lee, Meir
Wednesday, May 12 2010, 7:25AM
“John Werrington At least it is history repeating itself, An incoming Conservative administration (albeit with the LibDems) will be left to pick up the tab and clear up the mess of the previous Labour administration, All so 'Deja vu' like back in 1979.”
by John, werrington
Wednesday, May 12 2010, 7:07AM
“This election was reminiscent of the thatcher media flood in the 80's, constant pounding by conservative cash, ever forcing a conservative owned media, to pulp any reasonable argument by labour. So here we are, two novices cameron and clegg, its like giving your 5 year olds the keys to your mercedes, how long will it take to run it into a wall ? of course i can say what most parliamentary candidates cannot, there is a margin of gullible voters that read the paper, watch tv and then like morons, allow their vote to be guided, by a media driven by its own agenda, well !, well done you ! Now the rest of us will have to pay for it, this time next year the average man will be paying more tax, be more under the thumb of your employer (due to rising unemployment) etc,etc. We are now being governed by a minority(a bit like communism then ?) well yes in so much as it will be a minority of businessmen recouping their financial support for this election.”
by lee, Meir
Wednesday, May 12 2010, 6:45AM
“tonyjohnt to quote you from a other local site "Lordy, we'll never starve if we can live on sour grapes!" :) .”
by tonyjohnt, in hiding
Wednesday, May 12 2010, 1:32AM
“It will be interesting to see how many of those on here moaning about Brown being an unelected PM, will now back that squatter with a third of the vote staying in Downing St.
As for the Lib Dems and that charlatan Clegg - farewell.
Their time for moaning is over. Let's see what they'll do.”
by Mark, Uttoxeter
Wednesday, May 12 2010, 1:25AM
“Anyone on this page know why parents send their non catholic children to catholic schools? Please help if you can as the teeth nashers on the main story page are stuck.”
by Anon, hanley
Tuesday, May 11 2010, 10:05PM
“Gordon goes out the front door, now who sorts out the 20 investigations into Election fraud that the three of them have favoured?
This "Election" would shame a third world country, but thats what Liebour wanted.”
by Andy, sandbach
Tuesday, May 11 2010, 8:35PM
“Flash Gorm and Mandy have slithered off for the last time......at last....thank god.”
by John, Stoke on trent
Tuesday, May 11 2010, 7:46PM
“Well there's a bit of light at the of the tunnel as Gormless Brown and his shameless government are about to quit, But and its a big But!!!!
They all promise the world to get elected to office, then as one set of soiled goods waddle out the back door with there suitcases full of there ill gotten gain and gold plated pensions!!!the next shiny new lots come through the front, looking around at trapping? the full wine cabinets? and exclaiming YES we'll have some of this,and this has gone on government after government regardless of which party gets in.”
by Andy, sandbach
Tuesday, May 11 2010, 7:13PM
“LJ, Hartshill.....further to my last, why not try and engage in sensible debate, as opposed to commenting on every one of my comments?
It is clear that others have noticed you sad game.
Now, back to the subject in hand......”
by Andy, sandbach
Tuesday, May 11 2010, 7:04PM
“Angel....LJ Hartshill is apparently my number one fan, come predictable and boring stalker. Most folk tend to ignore him/her on here.”