Britons are closer to learning who their new government will be as the Conservatives and the upstart Liberal Democrats appear to be nearing a power-sharing deal. Apparently the Lib Dems have said they will only consider forming a coalition with Labour if Gordon Brown steps down as Labour Leader and Prime Mininster. Clegg said earlier today he wants to come to a decision as soon as possible with the Torys but their manifesto differs alot more than that of Labours. Sky News has reported an "outline" of a deal has been reached. The BBC has said the deal would be not be a full coalition but would go further than the Liberals just supporting the government on confidence issues. The Labour party has positioned itself to negotiate with the Liberal Democrats if the Tory deal falls through. Clegg and Brown also met Monday. Clegg, the potential kingmaker, urged British voters to "bear with us a little longer" on Monday as talks went on for a fourth straight day. I find this a funny turn in events that Clegg who lost to Cameron and Brown is now the Kingmaker and will be deciding who will be moving into 10 downing street, the need to come to decision within the next few days as the levels of uncertainty here in the U.K is rising. Former Conservative Party prime minister John Major has been pushing for a quick deal also.

It won't be enough, the Tories will never share properly and the Lib Dems have to weak a leader to solidify a decent coalition with them and Labour is in turmoil.

I'd like to see another election really but I can't help but think it would be wasted and we'd just end up with another hung parliament.

Its a sticky situation which I'm sure you as well as I and everybody else would like to see resolved quickly so we can get on with getting our country out of this mess.

Just my opinion

S+F

Originally posted by DISRAELI

In the 1885 election, Parnell's Irish Nationalists held the balance of power.
The results were;
Liberals 333
Conservatives 251
Irish Nationalists 85

If Parnell had decided to prop up the outgoing Conservative government, they would have had a tiny majority

This whole episode is looking more and more like 1885 with every hour that passes.
Since Charles Parnell's political career was eventually wrecked by a sordid scandal, the precedent isn't really very encouraging for Clegg, either.

The thread's claim has been overtaken by events. Senior Liberals are now saying that a deal with Labour is preferable.

Originally posted by micpsi
The thread's claim has been overtaken by events. Senior Liberals are now saying that a deal with Labour is preferable.

Yes, along with a proposed majority vote on AV rather than trusting the people with a referendum on electoral reform... IMHO, if they take that route, then I'll be certainly be left feeling we live in a dictatorship in all but name