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More Tory and Lib Dem talks due More Tory and Lib Dem talks due
(20 minutes later)
Senior Conservatives and Liberal Democrats are due to resume a third day of talks on forming a government. Senior Conservatives and Liberal Democrats are due to begin a third day of talks on forming a government.
On Sunday they spent six hours in "very positive" talks and the party leaders met for a 45-minute discussion.On Sunday they spent six hours in "very positive" talks and the party leaders met for a 45-minute discussion.
Both sides said economic stability would be key to any agreement - it also emerged Mr Clegg met Gordon Brown to discuss a potential deal.Both sides said economic stability would be key to any agreement - it also emerged Mr Clegg 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.Labour Chancellor Alistair Darling said he hoped that the talks would be resolved one way or another today.
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."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."
EU talksEU talks
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. He added: "I'm not saying that tomorrow's the end of the world but I just make the general observation that there does come a point in any negotiations - either you can do a deal or you can't."
There had been some fears that the pound and shares would suffer if a deal was not done by the time markets opened on Monday.
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 once trading began, the FTSE 100 index of London's leading shares leapt more than 4% - suggesting traders saw the EU deal over a fund to stop the Greek debt crisis spreading as much more significant.
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". 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.
"They can't deliver the promises I now hear are being whispered in the ears of the Liberal Democrats," Sir John said. While they see if they can reach an agreement which would see him losing his job as chancellor, Mr Darling has been representing Britain in the EU talks.
'Amicable discussion' He confirmed he had spoken to his Conservative and Lib Dem counterparts - George Osborne and Vince Cable about the deal but insisted: "I made the deal and I accept full responsibility for it."
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. Voting system
A Downing Street spokesman told the BBC it had been an "amicable discussion". 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. He met Mr Clegg on Sunday at the Foreign Office - Mr Cameron was aware of the meeting.
Mr Cameron was aware of the meeting. Former Conservative prime minister Sir John Major warned both the Tories and Lib Dems against dissolving into "partisan self interest".
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 Labour Party, I gather, are offering all sorts of things - the earth as I understand it - in order to get a quick deal Sir John Major class="" href="/2/hi/uk_news/politics/election_2010/8670411.stm">The options for a hung parliament class="" href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/robertpeston/2010/05/osborne_sounded_out_by_euro_fi.html">Peston: Euro ministers and Osborne class="" href="/2/hi/uk_news/politics/election_2010/8669991.stm">Hurdles facing Cameron and Clegg class="" href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/nickrobinson/2010/05/deal_or_no_deal.html">Robinson: Deal or no deal?
He said everyone should realise "there is going to have to be some compromise on both sides - cherished ideas may not be possible" and warned against drawing up plans for electoral reform "on the back of an envelope".
Sir John added: "The Labour Party, I gather, are offering all sorts of things - the earth as I understand it - in order to get a quick deal."
But he said he did not believe Gordon Brown could deliver what the Lib Dems want - proportional representation - as many Labour MPs were "as deeply if not more deeply opposed to proportional representation than the most die-hard Conservative".
Former leaders
"I don't see how he could possibly deliver it ... The Conservative Party will be able to deliver what they agree," he said.
BBC political editor Nick Robinson said there was a new role being played by former party leaders.
While Mr Cameron and Mr Clegg were keeping the contents of their talks secret, Sir John and former Lib Dem leader Lord Ashdown were giving away negotiating positions on behalf of their successors. Sir John's words showed there was anxiety in Conservative ranks that Lib Dems might be putting pressure on Mr Clegg to do a deal with Labour.
Gordon Brown has now returned to London from his home in FifeGordon Brown has now returned to London from his home in Fife
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.
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. Conservative MPs will also meet later - Mr Clegg met his MPs on Saturday.
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. On Sunday Mr Brown met Business Secretary Peter Mandelson, advisor Alastair Campbell, energy secretary Ed Miliband and deputy leader Harriet Harman in Downing Street.
Gordon Brown remains prime minister, and government business continues, with Chancellor Alistair Darling attending a meeting of finance ministers in Brussels. PM's 'duty'
'Economic uncertainty'
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".
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?
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.
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.
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.