Cameron close to power in UK

LONDON, MAY 7
Conservative leader David Cameron today moved ahead with efforts to stake claim to form a coalition government in Britain by roping in king-maker Liberal Democrats, even as defeated Labour Premier Gordon Brown attempted to dig his heels for another term.
The Conservative party of 43-year-old Cameron won the most seats in May 6 elections but did not take enough seats to form a majority.
However, armed with the largest number of seats (306) and the largest voting percentage (36 per cent), Cameron moved quickly to seek the support of Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg, whose party finished third with 57 seats.
Intense negotiations were on between the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats to form a Conservative-led government, with Cameron and Clegg holding discussions late in the evening.
The negotiation began after Cameron, encouraged by Clegg’s statement that his party would ideally offer support to the single largest party, made a “big, open and comprehensive offer” on policies in exchange for support.
As the hung poll verdict sent jitters through the financial markets, Cameron said he was keen to move quickly to form a strong and stable government. The new formation, however, is unlikely to be in place before Monday.
The Labour party, meanwhile, saw its tally slump to 258 in a House of Commons with a strength of 650 seats, with 649 results declared. A total of 326 seats are required for an absolute majority.
However, Brown is yet to concede defeat and indicated he was open to talk to Clegg in case the negotiation between the Lib Dems and the Tories failed.
The election appears to have ended the Labour party’s record run in 10, Downing Street, since 1997 and have thrown up a hung parliament for the first time since 1974.