Election 2010 update: Brown opens floor for discussions to form coalition government
Lauren Higgs
Friday, May 7, 2010
Prime Minister Gordon Brown has authorised civil servants to support politicians from all political parties in discussions about forming a potential coalition government.
The statement from Number 10 was issued this morning after it became clear that no party would be able to secure an outright majority, leaving the country with a hung parliament.
"It is my duty as Prime Minister to make sure Britain has a strong, stable and principled government," Brown said.
The Conservatives look set to have the most seats in the Commons, although Labour and the Liberal Democrats could in theory attempt to form a coalition.
But Nick Clegg, leader of the Liberal Democrats, appeared to rule out a pact with Labour in a statement this morning.
"Whichever party gets the most seats has the right to seek to form a government," he said. Despite this, Clegg urged politicians not to make any rushed decisions about the future of government. The Tories must prove they are "capable" of governing in the national interest, he added.
In Gedling, Labour's schools minister Vernon Coaker managed to hold onto his seat, but only by 1,859 vote majority. Labour's children's minister Dawn Primarolo also kept her seat in Bristol South, as did the party's apprenticeships minister, Kevin Brennan in Cardiff West.
Barry Sheerman, who was Labour chair of the Children, Schools and Families select committee until parliament dissolved, retained his seat in Huddersfield.
Michael Gove, Tim Loughton and Maria Miller, the Conservative's top three children and families spokespeople, all held onto their seats in Surrey Heath, Worthing East and Shoreham, and Basingstoke respectively.
It has been 36 years since the last hung parliament.