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Rediff.com  » News » Clegg now talking to both Tories, Labour

Clegg now talking to both Tories, Labour

By Prasun Sonwalkar
May 10, 2010 21:08 IST
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Negotiations on government formation took a new turn today in the UK with revelation that the Liberal Democrats leader Nick Clegg has also been holding discussions with Prime Minister Gordon Brown. Interlocutors representing the Liberal Democrats and the Conservative party have been locked in protracted negotiations since last Friday, but failed to reach an understanding until 4 pm (GMT) on Monday.

Even while talks between the two parties continued, it was revealed that Clegg has also been holding talks with the Labour party on government formation. Brown has stated that if talks between the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats fail, the Labour party would seek an alliance with the Liberal Democrats. The Labour party has clearly not given up the idea of forming the government after the May 6 election threw up a hung verdict.

The inability to reach an understanding between the Conservative and the Liberal Democrats nearly four days after the poll results were out indicates the seemingly irreconcilable differences between the two parties on key issues such as electoral reform, taxation and Europe.

Apart from public anxiety over the delay in government formation, there is much concern over the impact the hung verdict and subsequent political uncertainty would have on the financial markets. Clegg asked people to "bear with us" a bit longer and said all political parties were "working flat out" to find a solution.

Chancellor Alistair Darling, who continues in office until a new government takes over, said he hoped a decision was reached on Tuesday. He told the BBC: "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."

According to new guidelines, the formation of the new government should take place by 25 May, the day of the Queen's Speech to the new House of Commons.

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Prasun Sonwalkar in London
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