Yea, no tension there whatsoever. But today came the inevitable, Brown resigns
GORDON Brown has sensationally revealed he will quit as Labour leader.
In a speech outside 10 Downing Street, the PM said his party will elect a new leader by the time of its next conference in September.
But, he said, he will not stand or back any particular candidates.
He added he would take the blame for losing Labour's majority at the election.
The PM also revealed Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg has asked Labour to enter into "formal negotiations" on forming a government, and he said it was "sensible and in the national interest" to respond positively to the request.
VOTE: Who should replace Gordon Brown?
Mr Brown said: "The reason that we have a hung parliament is that no single party and no single leader was able to win the full support of the country.
"As leader of my party I must accept that as a judgment on me. I therefore intend to ask the Labour Party to set in train the processes needed for its own leadership election.
"I would hope that it would be completed in time for the new leader to be in post by the time of the Labour Party conference.
"I will play no part in that contest, I will back no individual candidate."
Meanwhile, Lib Dem energy spokesman Simon Hughes said he would be "surprised" if a deal had been made by the end of today.
He said: "I'm sure there will be a government by the end of the week."
Earlier today, Tory leader David Cameron and Mr Clegg looked to be moving close to striking a deal.
Negotiators said their parties were "working really well together".
But Mr Clegg said: "I hope people will understand it will be better to get the decision right rather than rushing into something that won't stand the test of time."
Shadow foreign secretary William Hague — speaking after 90 minutes of negotiations at the Cabinet Office in Whitehall — told reporters: "We have made further progress in our meeting with the Liberal Democrats this morning.
"We are now going to report back to David Cameron again, and have meetings with our parliamentary colleagues.
"The negotiating team are working really well together."
Proposals
Mr Clegg's chief of staff Danny Alexander emerged from the talks minutes later with a virtually identical statement.
Sources said Mr Clegg and Mr Cameron also had a "positive and constructive" 30-minute phone conversation this morning.
The call followed Mr Cameron's second face-to-face talks with the Lib Dem leader in the space of 24 hours as the Tory leader appeared to be inching closer to Number 10.
As he left home this morning, Mr Cameron remained upbeat, telling reporters: "I am always positive."
In his speech this afternoon, Mr Brown said: "Mr Clegg has just informed me that while he intends to continue the dialogue he has begun with the Conservatives, he now wishes also to take forward formal discussions with the Labour Party.
"I believe it is sensible and it's in the national interest to respond positively.
"The Cabinet will meet soon. A formal policy negotiating process is being established under the arrangements made by the Cabinet secretary similar to the negotiations between other parties.
"The first priority should be an agreed deficit reduction plan to support economic growth and a return to full employment."
The move comes after Liberal Democrat MPs demanded clarification of key policy areas under discussion with the Tories.
He went on: "If it becomes clear that the national interest can be best served by forming a coalition between the Labour Party and the Liberal Democrats, then I believe I should discharge that duty, support that government which would, in my view, command a majority in the House of Commons in the Queen's Speech and any other confidence votes.
"But I have no desire to stay in my position longer than is needed to ensure the path to economic growth is assured and the process of political reform we have agreed moves forward quickly."
This is only going to get more interesting, more on the SCOTUS pick later today.
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