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More Tory and Lib Dem talks due More Tory and Lib Dem talks due
(about 3 hours later)
Senior Conservatives and Liberal Democrats are due to resume talks on forming a government. Senior Conservatives and Liberal Democrats are due to resume a third day of talks on forming a government.
On Sunday negotiating teams spent six hours in "very positive and productive" talks and the party leaders had a 45-minute face-to-face discussion. On Sunday they spent six hours in "very positive" talks and the party leaders met for a 45-minute discussion.
The Tories said they and the Lib Dems were "discussing specific proposals" and both sides said economic stability would be key to any agreement. Both sides said economic stability would be key to any agreement - it also emerged Mr Clegg met Gordon Brown to discuss a potential deal.
It emerged Mr Clegg had also met Gordon Brown to discuss a potential deal. Labour Chancellor Alistair Darling said he hoped that the talks would be resolved one way or another today.
Mr Brown has offered the Lib Dems talks if no agreement is reached with the Conservatives. He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "I don't think it would do any good to let this process drag on. I understand that the Liberals and the Conservatives are engaged in talks today, I hope by the end of today they will decide whether they can do a deal or not."
The prime minister and Mr Clegg met at the Foreign Office, after Mr Brown arrived back at Downing Street on Sunday afternoon from his home in Scotland. EU talks
A Downing Street spokesman told the BBC it had been an "amicable discussion". While the Tories and Lib Dems see if they can reach an agreement, Mr Darling is still representing Britain as its chancellor in talks with other EU finance ministers to discuss the Greek crisis.
TIMETABLE Sunday, 1100 BST: Lib Dem and Tory negotiating teams met for six hours. Meanwhile Nick Clegg met Gordon Brown at the Foreign Office. Later in the evening David Cameron and Mr Clegg met for 45 minutes in ParliamentMonday, 0800 BST: Markets openMonday morning: Conservative and Lib Dem negotiating teams to reconveneMonday, 1800 BST: Conservative MPs meet Strategists try to avoid leaks Send us your commentsTIMETABLE Sunday, 1100 BST: Lib Dem and Tory negotiating teams met for six hours. Meanwhile Nick Clegg met Gordon Brown at the Foreign Office. Later in the evening David Cameron and Mr Clegg met for 45 minutes in ParliamentMonday, 0800 BST: Markets openMonday morning: Conservative and Lib Dem negotiating teams to reconveneMonday, 1800 BST: Conservative MPs meet Strategists try to avoid leaks Send us your comments
Gordon Brown has offered the Lib Dems talks if no agreement is reached with the Conservatives - he has already offered a referendum on electoral reform - a key concern of the Lib Dems.
But former Conservative prime minister Sir John Major told the BBC he did not believe Labour could deliver what the Lib Dems want - proportional representation - as many Labour MPs were "more deeply opposed to proportional representation than the most die hard Conservative".
"They can't deliver the promises I now hear are being whispered in the ears of the Liberal Democrats," Sir John said.
'Amicable discussion'
Mr Brown and Mr Clegg met at the Foreign Office, after Mr Brown arrived back at Downing Street on Sunday afternoon from his home in Scotland.
A Downing Street spokesman told the BBC it had been an "amicable discussion".
Mr Cameron was aware of the meeting.Mr Cameron was aware of the meeting.
The Conservative negotiating team consists of Shadow foreign secretary William Hague, shadow chancellor George Osborne, policy chief Oliver Letwin and chief of staff Ed Llewellyn. The Conservative negotiating team consists of shadow foreign secretary William Hague, shadow chancellor George Osborne, policy chief Oliver Letwin and chief of staff Ed Llewellyn.
Gordon Brown has now returned to London from his home in Fife
Their Lib Dem counterparts are MPs Chris Huhne - Lib Dem home affairs spokesman - Andrew Stunell, David Laws and chief of staff Danny Alexander.Their Lib Dem counterparts are MPs Chris Huhne - Lib Dem home affairs spokesman - Andrew Stunell, David Laws and chief of staff Danny Alexander.
They will resume talks on Monday, and Conservative MPs are due to meet later in the day.They will resume talks on Monday, and Conservative MPs are due to meet later in the day.
The Tories won the most votes and MPs in Thursday's election, but are short of a majority and are seeking support from the Lib Dems to form a government.The Tories won the most votes and MPs in Thursday's election, but are short of a majority and are seeking support from the Lib Dems to form a government.
Gordon Brown remains prime minister, and government business continues, with Chancellor Alistair Darling attending a meeting of finance ministers in Brussels.Gordon Brown remains prime minister, and government business continues, with Chancellor Alistair Darling attending a meeting of finance ministers in Brussels.
BBC political editor Nick Robinson said of the Tory-Lib Dem negotiations: "They are not merely going through the motions. There are real and substantial talks." 'Economic uncertainty'
He said it was "make your mind up time for Nick Clegg and the Lib Dems", adding that they "have to do it pretty soon".
Gordon Brown has now returned to London from his home in Fife
On Sunday, emerging from the Cabinet Office after a day of talks, Mr Hague said: "The issues that we have covered have included political reform, economic issues and reduction of the deficit, banking reform, civil liberties, environmental issues."On Sunday, emerging from the Cabinet Office after a day of talks, Mr Hague said: "The issues that we have covered have included political reform, economic issues and reduction of the deficit, banking reform, civil liberties, environmental issues."
He added that both sides "agreed that a central part of any agreement that we make will be economic stability and the reduction of the budget deficit".He added that both sides "agreed that a central part of any agreement that we make will be economic stability and the reduction of the budget deficit".
Minutes later, Mr Alexander also made a brief statement, describing the talks as wide-ranging and "good", and also emphasising that deficit reduction was important.
Speaking on Sunday before the talks Nick Clegg said: "I'm very keen the Liberal Democrats should play a constructive role at a time of great economic uncertainty to provide a good government that this country deserves.
"Throughout that we will continue to be guided by the big changes we want."
The Lib Dem leader has said the Conservatives, as the biggest party, have the right to seek to form a government first.
They have met the Tory team three times, assisted by civil servants as agreed in the arrangements for a hung parliament.
Mr Cameron and Mr Clegg first met for face-to-face talks over a possible coalition on Saturday and discussed it again by phone a day later.
Some very senior Liberal Democrats are highly sceptical about reaching any accommodation with the Conservatives Iain Watson, BBC political correspondent The options for a hung parliament Peston: Euro ministers and Osborne Hurdles facing Cameron and Clegg Robinson: Deal or no deal?Some very senior Liberal Democrats are highly sceptical about reaching any accommodation with the Conservatives Iain Watson, BBC political correspondent The options for a hung parliament Peston: Euro ministers and Osborne Hurdles facing Cameron and Clegg Robinson: Deal or no deal?
Former Lib Dem leader Lord Ashdown said it was important that the party talked to the Conservatives at the same time as "listening to Labour". Minutes later, Mr Alexander also made a brief statement, describing the talks as wide-ranging and "good", and also emphasising that deficit reduction was important.
"The central proposition is: what combination serves the nation's interests in providing stable, long-term stability in order to tackle the crisis?" he said.
Also on Sunday Mr Brown met Business Secretary Peter Mandelson, advisor Alastair Campbell, energy secretary Ed Miliband and deputy leader Harriet Harman in Downing Street.Also on Sunday Mr Brown met Business Secretary Peter Mandelson, advisor Alastair Campbell, energy secretary Ed Miliband and deputy leader Harriet Harman in Downing Street.
And in an e-mail to Labour activists the prime minister thanked them for their work throughout the election."The past few days have seen us enter a political landscape not considered possible a few short weeks ago - with the outcome of the election leading to no single party able to form a majority government," he wrote.And in an e-mail to Labour activists the prime minister thanked them for their work throughout the election."The past few days have seen us enter a political landscape not considered possible a few short weeks ago - with the outcome of the election leading to no single party able to form a majority government," he wrote.
"My duty as prime minister has been to seek to resolve this situation.""My duty as prime minister has been to seek to resolve this situation."
Several Labour backbenchers have called for Mr Brown to step down.Several Labour backbenchers have called for Mr Brown to step down.
BBC political correspondent Iain Watson said: "Privately the assessment of senior labour sources is that the Liberal Democrats are most likely to reach a deal with the Conservatives which falls short of a formal coalition and which would allow David Cameron to govern without a majority.
"However they are encouraged that some very senior Liberal Democrats are highly sceptical about reaching any accommodation with the Conservatives and feel the space has opened up for the possibility of an alternative deal with Labour."
Scotland's First Minister, SNP leader Alex Salmond, has called on the Lib Dems to join a "progressive alliance" involving Labour, the SNP and Plaid Cymru.Scotland's First Minister, SNP leader Alex Salmond, has called on the Lib Dems to join a "progressive alliance" involving Labour, the SNP and Plaid Cymru.
The Tories secured 306 of the 649 constituencies contested on 6 May. It leaves the party short of the 326 MPs needed for an outright majority.The Tories secured 306 of the 649 constituencies contested on 6 May. It leaves the party short of the 326 MPs needed for an outright majority.
The Thirsk and Malton seat - where the election was postponed after the death of a candidate - is still to vote.The Thirsk and Malton seat - where the election was postponed after the death of a candidate - is still to vote.
Labour finished with 258 MPs, down 91, the Lib Dems 57, down five, and other parties 28.Labour finished with 258 MPs, down 91, the Lib Dems 57, down five, and other parties 28.
If Labour and the Lib Dems joined forces, they would still not be the largest grouping. With the support of the Northern Irish SDLP, one Alliance MP, and nationalists from Scotland and Wales they would reach 330, rising to 338 if the DUP, the independent unionist and the new Green MP joined them.If Labour and the Lib Dems joined forces, they would still not be the largest grouping. With the support of the Northern Irish SDLP, one Alliance MP, and nationalists from Scotland and Wales they would reach 330, rising to 338 if the DUP, the independent unionist and the new Green MP joined them.
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