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Clegg considering Cameron offer Clegg considering Cameron offer
(10 minutes later)
Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg is meeting his MPs and peers to discuss a power-sharing offer from the Conservatives.Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg is meeting his MPs and peers to discuss a power-sharing offer from the Conservatives.
The Tories won most votes in the UK election but were short of a majority - Gordon Brown remains PM while Tories see if they can form a government.The Tories won most votes in the UK election but were short of a majority - Gordon Brown remains PM while Tories see if they can form a government.
Mr Clegg also spoke to the PM by phone on Friday. He has offered talks if Lib Dems cannot agree with the Tories.Mr Clegg also spoke to the PM by phone on Friday. He has offered talks if Lib Dems cannot agree with the Tories.
Mr Clegg, Mr Brown and Tory leader David Cameron appeared together at the Cenotaph for VE Day celebrations.Mr Clegg, Mr Brown and Tory leader David Cameron appeared together at the Cenotaph for VE Day celebrations.
The Lib Dem leader has met senior Lib Dem MPs and is now meeting his wider parliamentary party to sound them out about the options, after the UK election resulted in a hung parliament.The Lib Dem leader has met senior Lib Dem MPs and is now meeting his wider parliamentary party to sound them out about the options, after the UK election resulted in a hung parliament.
Hundreds of people have gathered outside the Lib Dem meeting in favour of electoral reform, chanting "Fair votes now" and demanding to see Mr Clegg.
'Constructive spirit''Constructive spirit'
He will meet his party's governing body, the federal executive, later to discuss Mr Cameron's proposals. He will need the support of a majority of MPs and the executive to enter into any deal.He will meet his party's governing body, the federal executive, later to discuss Mr Cameron's proposals. He will need the support of a majority of MPs and the executive to enter into any deal.
Entering talks this morning, Mr Clegg stressed his priorities, including "fundamental political reform", but said they would act in a "constructive spirit" in the "coming hours and days".Entering talks this morning, Mr Clegg stressed his priorities, including "fundamental political reform", but said they would act in a "constructive spirit" in the "coming hours and days".
Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg: "People deserve good, stable government"Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg: "People deserve good, stable government"
Electoral reform is likely to be a key battleground - the Lib Dems have long campaigned for the first-past-the-post system to be replaced with a form of proportional representation. The Conservatives oppose changing the voting system.Electoral reform is likely to be a key battleground - the Lib Dems have long campaigned for the first-past-the-post system to be replaced with a form of proportional representation. The Conservatives oppose changing the voting system.
Mr Clegg said the election result meant politicians had to talk to each other as "people deserve good, stable government".Mr Clegg said the election result meant politicians had to talk to each other as "people deserve good, stable government".
He said the Lib Dems would enter into talks with other parties in a "constructive spirit" over the "coming hours and days", and the party would press its case for its four priorities - tax reform to make the system fairer, a "new approach" to education to give a "fair start" to all children and to the economy and "fundamental political reform to our political system".He said the Lib Dems would enter into talks with other parties in a "constructive spirit" over the "coming hours and days", and the party would press its case for its four priorities - tax reform to make the system fairer, a "new approach" to education to give a "fair start" to all children and to the economy and "fundamental political reform to our political system".
The Conservative and Lib Dem negotiation teams will meet again at 1100 BST on Sunday and there will be a meeting of Conservative MPs at 1800 BST on Monday, the BBC understands.The Conservative and Lib Dem negotiation teams will meet again at 1100 BST on Sunday and there will be a meeting of Conservative MPs at 1800 BST on Monday, the BBC understands.
'Progressive' coalition'Progressive' coalition
The approach by the Conservatives has echoes of 1974, when Tory PM Ted Heath spent a weekend trying to agree a coalition with Jeremy Thorpe's Liberal Party. The deal collapsed on the Monday and Mr Heath was forced to resign - leaving Harold Wilson to form a minority Labour government.The approach by the Conservatives has echoes of 1974, when Tory PM Ted Heath spent a weekend trying to agree a coalition with Jeremy Thorpe's Liberal Party. The deal collapsed on the Monday and Mr Heath was forced to resign - leaving Harold Wilson to form a minority Labour government.
Labour frontbencher Peter Hain said it was "clear" that Mr Clegg and Mr Brown had "a lot in common" on the need for electoral reform - Labour has offered a referendum on changing the voting system.Labour frontbencher Peter Hain said it was "clear" that Mr Clegg and Mr Brown had "a lot in common" on the need for electoral reform - Labour has offered a referendum on changing the voting system.
It would seem to me very strange... if the government of the UK was held to ransom over an issue that the voters did not see as their priority Liam FoxConservatives Analysis: The price of a deal Election 2010: At-a-glance Poll Watch: Were they accurate? Analysis: Deal or no deal? Cameron offers deal to Lib DemsIt would seem to me very strange... if the government of the UK was held to ransom over an issue that the voters did not see as their priority Liam FoxConservatives Analysis: The price of a deal Election 2010: At-a-glance Poll Watch: Were they accurate? Analysis: Deal or no deal? Cameron offers deal to Lib Dems
And his colleague Ben Bradshaw told the BBC it was "not credible" that the Lib Dems would do a deal with the Conservatives without the promise of electoral reform.And his colleague Ben Bradshaw told the BBC it was "not credible" that the Lib Dems would do a deal with the Conservatives without the promise of electoral reform.
He said Gordon Brown - who has gone to his family home in Scotland - could remain prime minister in a "progressive" coalition deal with the Liberal Democrats, if their talks with the Tories failed.He said Gordon Brown - who has gone to his family home in Scotland - could remain prime minister in a "progressive" coalition deal with the Liberal Democrats, if their talks with the Tories failed.
And Scotland's First Minister, SNP leader Alex Salmond, called on the Lib Dems to join a "progressive alliance" involving Labour, the SNP and Plaid Cymru - although a Labour source dismissed that as "a desperate attempt by Alex Salmond to make himself look relevant after a terrible general election result".And Scotland's First Minister, SNP leader Alex Salmond, called on the Lib Dems to join a "progressive alliance" involving Labour, the SNP and Plaid Cymru - although a Labour source dismissed that as "a desperate attempt by Alex Salmond to make himself look relevant after a terrible general election result".
The Lib Dems have denied suggestions from a senior Lib Dem source of an angry phone conversation between Mr Brown and Mr Clegg. A Lib Dem spokeswoman said it was "perfectly amicable".The Lib Dems have denied suggestions from a senior Lib Dem source of an angry phone conversation between Mr Brown and Mr Clegg. A Lib Dem spokeswoman said it was "perfectly amicable".
Downing Street said it lasted 40 minutes and concentrated on "process".Downing Street said it lasted 40 minutes and concentrated on "process".
Voting systemVoting system
Mr Brown has publicly invited the Lib Dems to talk to Labour, if talks with the Conservatives fail.Mr Brown has publicly invited the Lib Dems to talk to Labour, if talks with the Conservatives fail.
The BBC understands some Labour members are already talking to their Lib Dem counterparts to try to persuade them that a deal with the Tories would be a disaster.The BBC understands some Labour members are already talking to their Lib Dem counterparts to try to persuade them that a deal with the Tories would be a disaster.
Mr Cameron will also face a battle from some Conservatives if he allows senior Lib Dems to serve in a Conservative-led cabinet or bows to demands for change the voting system.Mr Cameron will also face a battle from some Conservatives if he allows senior Lib Dems to serve in a Conservative-led cabinet or bows to demands for change the voting system.
He has offered an "all party committee of inquiry on political and electoral reform" but has not offered a referendum on changing the voting system.He has offered an "all party committee of inquiry on political and electoral reform" but has not offered a referendum on changing the voting system.
Senior Conservative Liam Fox told the BBC: "It would seem to me very strange in an election that was dominated by the economy...if the government of the UK was held to ransom over an issue that the voters did not see as their priority."Senior Conservative Liam Fox told the BBC: "It would seem to me very strange in an election that was dominated by the economy...if the government of the UK was held to ransom over an issue that the voters did not see as their priority."
He admitted politicians were "constrained" by the range of views within the party but said the question was whether the parties would focus on their similarities to provide a "stable government for the country" or whether "elements within the parties" would be allowed to focus on their differences.He admitted politicians were "constrained" by the range of views within the party but said the question was whether the parties would focus on their similarities to provide a "stable government for the country" or whether "elements within the parties" would be allowed to focus on their differences.
He said that was not "a free-for-all for politicians cobbling deals after the election".He said that was not "a free-for-all for politicians cobbling deals after the election".
The Tories secured 306 of the 649 constituencies contested on 6 May. It leaves the party just short of the 326 MPs needed for an outright majority, with the Thirsk and Malton seat - where the election was postponed after the death of a candidate - still to vote.The Tories secured 306 of the 649 constituencies contested on 6 May. It leaves the party just short of the 326 MPs needed for an outright majority, with the Thirsk and Malton seat - where the election was postponed after the death of a candidate - still to vote.
Labour finished with 258 MPs, down 91, the Lib Dems 57, down five, and other parties 28. The Conservatives got 36.1% of votes (up 3.8%), Labour 29.1% (down 6.2%) and the Lib Dems 23% (up 1%).Labour finished with 258 MPs, down 91, the Lib Dems 57, down five, and other parties 28. The Conservatives got 36.1% of votes (up 3.8%), Labour 29.1% (down 6.2%) and the Lib Dems 23% (up 1%).
Past practice under Britain's unwritten constitution involves the sitting prime minister in a hung Parliament having the right to make the first attempt at forming a ruling coalition.Past practice under Britain's unwritten constitution involves the sitting prime minister in a hung Parliament having the right to make the first attempt at forming a ruling coalition.
But Mr Clegg - whose party did worse than in 2005 despite favourable opinion polls - said that he believed the Tories had gained the "first right" to attempt to form a government.But Mr Clegg - whose party did worse than in 2005 despite favourable opinion polls - said that he believed the Tories had gained the "first right" to attempt to form a government.