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| Version 14 | Version 15 |
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| Clegg in Brown and Cameron talks | Clegg in Brown and Cameron talks |
| (9 minutes later) | |
| Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg has held private meetings with Gordon Brown and David Cameron as talks continue over forming the next UK government. | Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg has held private meetings with Gordon Brown and David Cameron as talks continue over forming the next UK government. |
| It is understood that Mr Cameron was unaware that Mr Clegg had also met the Labour leader for talks on Monday. | It is understood that Mr Cameron was unaware that Mr Clegg had also met the Labour leader for talks on Monday. |
| Earlier the official Tory and Lib Dem negotiating teams had reported good "progress" as negotiations continue. | Earlier the official Tory and Lib Dem negotiating teams had reported good "progress" as negotiations continue. |
| The Conservatives won the most MPs and the most votes in the election - but failed to win an outright majority. | The Conservatives won the most MPs and the most votes in the election - but failed to win an outright majority. |
| They have been talking to the Lib Dems about terms for working together in government since Friday. | They have been talking to the Lib Dems about terms for working together in government since Friday. |
| But it has now emerged that the Lib Dem negotiating team has also been in what appear to be parallel talks with Labour - meeting Lord Mandelson, Ed Miliband, Ed Balls and Lord Adonis in secret at the weekend. | But it has now emerged that the Lib Dem negotiating team has also been in what appear to be parallel talks with Labour - meeting Lord Mandelson, Ed Miliband, Ed Balls and Lord Adonis in secret at the weekend. |
| Transitional period | Transitional period |
| BBC Political Editor Nick Robinson said he could not get any official comment from the Lib Dems or Labour about what was discussed when their negotiating teams met. | BBC Political Editor Nick Robinson said he could not get any official comment from the Lib Dems or Labour about what was discussed when their negotiating teams met. |
| But he said it showed Labour had not given up on the idea of doing a deal with the Lib Dems to stay in power - even though the Lib Dems did not want Gordon Brown to remain prime minister. | But he said it showed Labour had not given up on the idea of doing a deal with the Lib Dems to stay in power - even though the Lib Dems did not want Gordon Brown to remain prime minister. |
| He said senior Cabinet figures had suggested Mr Brown could remain as PM for a transitional period, but announce his intention to stand down by a specified future date. | He said senior Cabinet figures had suggested Mr Brown could remain as PM for a transitional period, but announce his intention to stand down by a specified future date. |
| TIMETABLE Sunday: Lib Dem and Tory 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: 30 min phonecall between Clegg and Cameron1000 BST: Tory and Lib Dem teams reconvene1300 BST: Lib Dem MPs meet1400 BST: Shadow cabinet meet1700 BST: Lib Dem federal executive to meet1800 BST: Conservative MPs meet1900 BST: Conservative Party board to meet Analysis: Clegg's dilemma Profile: Tory-Lib Dem negotiators | |
| It is not yet known whether that was discussed during Mr Clegg and Mr Brown's second face-to-face meeting in 24 hours. | It is not yet known whether that was discussed during Mr Clegg and Mr Brown's second face-to-face meeting in 24 hours. |
| Mr Clegg, who told the BBC he was "almost, almost" there on making a decision, also held private talks with Mr Cameron at lunchtime as well as a 30-minute phone conversation. | |
| He has been meeting Lib Dem MPs for more than an hour and a half. Portsmouth South MP Mike Hancock told the BBC there had been a "mixed response" to the Conservatives' offer. The BBC understands that while there has been no outright rejection, there has also been no acceptance. | |
| The Conservative front bench are also meeting, before they meet all Tory MPs at 1800 BST. The Lib Dems' governing body, the federal executive, is also due to meet at 1700 BST. It would have to approve any deal, under Lib Dem rules. | |
| 'Specific ideas' | |
| Before talks on Monday morning, Mr Clegg told reporters he understood people were anxious to know what was happening but said all parties and party leaders were "working flat out around the clock to try and act on the decision of the British people last Thursday in the election result". | Before talks on Monday morning, Mr Clegg told reporters he understood people were anxious to know what was happening but said all parties and party leaders were "working flat out around the clock to try and act on the decision of the British people last Thursday in the election result". |
| He said they would arrive at a decision "as quickly as possible" but said he hoped people would understand they wanted to get the decision right rather than come to an arrangement that "won't stand the test of time". | He said they would arrive at a decision "as quickly as possible" but said he hoped people would understand they wanted to get the decision right rather than come to an arrangement that "won't stand the test of time". |
| If electoral reform is the stumbling block to any deal with the Tories, Gordon Brown is the block to any Lib/Lab deal class="" href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/nickrobinson/2010/05/labour_in_play.html">Read Nick Robinson's blog | |
| William Hague, one of the senior Conservatives involved in the negotiations, told reporters the talks were "going well" and they were talking about "some specific ideas and proposals". He said they were "optimistic" about making progress soon. | William Hague, one of the senior Conservatives involved in the negotiations, told reporters the talks were "going well" and they were talking about "some specific ideas and proposals". He said they were "optimistic" about making progress soon. |
| Leaving the talks an hour and a half later, he said they had made "further progress" but said they had to go back to Mr Cameron to update him and Tory MPs and peers. | Leaving the talks an hour and a half later, he said they had made "further progress" but said they had to go back to Mr Cameron to update him and Tory MPs and peers. |
| Both sides have stressed that the stability of the British economy is key to any deal. | Both sides have stressed that the stability of the British economy is key to any deal. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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 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. |
| 'Full responsibility' | 'Full responsibility' |
| While the Tories and Lib Dems see if they can reach an agreement which would see him losing his job as Chancellor, Labour's Alistair Darling has continued to represent Britain in the EU talks. | While the Tories and Lib Dems see if they can reach an agreement which would see him losing his job as Chancellor, Labour's Alistair Darling has continued to represent Britain in the EU talks. |
| 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." |
| ELECTION SPECIAL David Dimbleby will present a BBC election special on BBC One at 2030 BST. It will also be streamed on the BBC News website. | ELECTION SPECIAL David Dimbleby will present a BBC election special on BBC One at 2030 BST. It will also be streamed on the BBC News website. |
| Labour have already pledged a referendum on switching from the first-past-the-post voting system to the alternative vote system, where voters rank their choices in order of preference and an MP has to get 50% of votes. | Labour have already pledged a referendum on switching from the first-past-the-post voting system to the alternative vote system, where voters rank their choices in order of preference and an MP has to get 50% of votes. |
| Changing the voting system is a long-time goal of the Lib Dems who favour a form of proportional representation. | Changing the voting system is a long-time goal of the Lib Dems who favour a form of proportional representation. |
| But former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith said the Conservatives were "not interested" in electoral reform and there was no "overwhelming desire" among the public for such a step. | But former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith said the Conservatives were "not interested" in electoral reform and there was no "overwhelming desire" among the public for such a step. |
| While he believed there were areas of possible "accommodation" over policy with the Lib Dems, he said Conservative MPs and party members would have to "feel comfortable" with any agreement reached. | While he believed there were areas of possible "accommodation" over policy with the Lib Dems, he said Conservative MPs and party members would have to "feel comfortable" with any agreement reached. |
| But Michael Howard - another former Tory leader, said he "very much" hoped a deal was reached with the Lib Dems. | But Michael Howard - another former Tory leader, said he "very much" hoped a deal was reached with the Lib Dems. |
| "It is important that a government is formed soon. I hope it will be possible for the negotiating teams to reach an agreement." | "It is important that a government is formed soon. I hope it will be possible for the negotiating teams to reach an agreement." |
Coalition scenarios | Coalition scenarios |