Sky News: Conservative/Lib Dem agree Deal

THERES A SQUATTER AT NUMBER TEN CAN SOMEONE REMOVE THE ONE EYED MONSTER

Sky's Joey Jones said: "The negotiations are entering the endgame.

"The outline of a deal is there but the party hierarchies now have to go back to their MPs and put the deal to them.

"Things are moving quickly and once this afternoon's meetings have taken place I think we could see things changing very, very swiftly."

Earlier negotiators from both parties said there had been "further progress" in talks.

Watch the latest LIVE on Sky Player

On the steps outside the Cabinet Office, David Cameron's deputy William Hague said: "We have made further progress in our meeting with the Liberal Democrats this morning.

"On our part, we will report back to David Cameron again and have meetings with parliamentary colleagues.

"The negotiating teams are working really well together."

He was echoed by Nick Clegg's chief of staff Danny Alexander who said: "We are working well together.

"Good further progress has been made and I am now going to go and report on that to Nick Clegg and my parliamentary colleagues."

A senior Lib Dem figure told Sky News: "The time is ripe with risk and opportunity."

That's a misleading title
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/election_2010/8671661.stm
http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2010/may/10/general-election-2010-live-blog

No deal's been made, it's all still a bit WOARH!.

There's no deal whatsoever.

I'm hoping for a LibLab coalition, although it will undermine everyone who voted Tory (who are the party the most people voted for) so in fairness Nick Clegg should thoroughly explore forming a government with those. The way this parliamentary system works doesn't mean he's obliged to do that though, so it'll be interesting to see what happens.

Personally I think a LibCon deal won't work, and I hope one doesn't materialise. Their interests are a gulf apart and I reckon the Conservatives will find a way to shaft them and not do what they promised as part of any deal. I don't want the Lib Dems to compromise Political Reform at all; they need to push for it, and now is the perfect opportunity.

On the other hand Labour have hardly proved they're competent over the last 13 years and perhaps they don't deserve another chance. Nick Clegg must have a massive headache.

I don't think any coalition is gonna work that well, probably will have another election in a year or so.

A best of Tories/best of Lib Dem's policies would be perfect! Sadly it'll probably just work out a bit of a mess though.

im hoping they have another election after september next year, then i can vote.

Sky jumped the gun.

Nick Clegg told us "vote lib dem for change" and if he sides with Labour, all he's doing is giving us another 5 years of the misery we'v had.

@Kev
Yep, I totally agree with you.

Scots defending a Tory government? I say. I don't see why anyone but the bourgeoisie and people in South England would.

Oi!
I am not Scottish.

Wheesht kiddies, this thread is srs.

Now:News Channel Election Coverage
1624David Cameron arrived at Conservative HQ a short time ago, saying he'd come to talk to his staff, reports the BBC's Chris Buckler.
18 secs ago
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Page last updated at 15:13 GMT, Tuesday, 11 May 2010 16:13 UK
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Hung parliament: Labour 'know Lib Dem talks over'
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David Cameron: ''It is now.. decision time for the Liberal Democrats''
Labour recognise their efforts to do a deal with the Lib Dems to stay in power are over, the BBC understands.

The decision appears to clear the way for a Lib Dem and Tory deal which would see David Cameron succeeding Labour's Gordon Brown as prime minister.

The Lib Dems and Conservative teams are still in talks, four days after the UK election delivered a hung parliament.

Mr Cameron, Conservative leader, met Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg in private for an hour earlier on Tuesday.

'Respect results'

Talks between Labour and the Lib Dems began formally on Monday when Gordon Brown announced he would be stepping down as Labour leader.

But several senior Labour figures have warned against a coalition with the Lib Dems, particularly if the price involves offering them a referendum on changing the voting system to proportional representation.

And cabinet minister Andy Burnham told the BBC that Labour had to "respect the results of the general election and we can't get away from the fact that Labour didn't win". An aide said he was merely voicing concerns among colleagues.

Entering the Tory-Lib Dem talks on Tuesday afternoon, senior Conservative William Hague said they felt "very strongly that there should be a government with a strong and secure majority in the House of Commons and an elected prime minister".

He added they remained "firmly of that view" and had set out proposals to achieve that - "we have come here to hear the Liberal Democrat response".


I hope they will make the right decision to give this country the strong, stable government that it badly needs and badly needs quickly

David Cameron


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Labour MP rules out deal with SNP
Nick Robinson: Head v hearts
Labour's Ed Miliband said they had had "good discussions" with the Lib Dems earlier, but some Labour figures have warned against a deal.

Lib Dem leader Mr Clegg said talks had reached a "critical and final phase" and his party would "do our bit to create a stable, good government".

Both Labour and the Tories have been trying to woo the Lib Dems with promises on electoral reform to help them form a government, after the Conservatives won the most seats in Thursday's election but were short of an overall majority.

Labour say if the Lib Dems back them they will put the Alternative Vote system into law and then hold a referendum asking voters if they want a proportional representation voting system - a key issue for the Lib Dems.

'Shambles'

But some senior Labour figures have warned a coalition could be damaging and oppose PR. Former home secretary David Blunkett told the BBC any deal with Labour would be "a coalition of the defeated" and said the developments showed why full proportional representation was a bad idea.

"I think we can wear AV... What we can't have is this shambles every time we have an election. "

Under AV, voters rank candidates in a constituency. If no-one gets 50% of votes the candidate finishing last gets eliminated and their second preferences are awarded to the remaining candidates. This continues until one candidates passes the 50% mark.


BROWN TO STAND DOWN

Tory 'final offer' on vote reform
Q&A: Brown's decision to quit
Gordon Brown's rise and fall
Labour leader: Runners and riders
In quotes: Resignation reaction
In pictures: Gordon Brown
The Conservatives upped their offer to the Lib Dems to a promise of a referendum on changing the voting system from existing first past the post system to AV.

Speaking on Tuesday morning Mr Cameron said his party had made a "very reasonable" offer to the Lib Dems and had put aside party interest in favour of the national interest - the Conservatives oppose changing the voting system.

Mr Cameron said: "It's now, I believe, decision time, decision time for the Liberal Democrats and I hope they will make the right decision to give this country the strong, stable government that it badly needs and badly needs quickly."

But former Conservative cabinet minister Sir Malcolm Rifkind told the BBC he was "saddened, depressed and very angry" about what had happened. He said he had believed Mr Clegg was "acting in a very honourable way" before learning his team had been secretly meeting Labour.

Meanwhile David Miliband refused to be drawn on the progress of talks between the Lib Dems and Labour - but appeared to confirm he would stand to succeed Mr Brown as Labour leader, saying: "I'm certainly not going to be saying anything more - and none of the candidates are going to be saying anything more."

'Rainbow coalition'

Influential Labour backbencher Jon Cruddas put out a statement calling for the entire party and the trade unions to be consulted about any deal between Labour and the Lib Dems.

BBC News Channel chief political correspondent Laura Kuenssberg said it suggested he was considering himself as a candidate for the Labour leadership.

Labour's ruling national executive committee is meeting on Tuesday to discuss the prospect of a coalition and the time it will take to replace Mr Brown.

Senior Lib Dem and Labour figures have appeared to rule out a "rainbow coalition" involving the SNP and have said instead they could rule as a minority government, confident that the Scottish nationalists would not vote with the Conservatives.


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Nick Clegg: Talks in critical and final phase
Labour's election co-ordinator Douglas Alexander told BBC Radio Scotland he "cannot envisage" the SNP being involved in any coalition agreement because there were "fundamental differences" between them.

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, with the Thirsk and Malton seat - where the election was postponed after the death of a candidate - still to vote.

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 have an overall majority.

With the support of the Northern Irish SDLP, one Alliance MP, and nationalists from Scotland and Wales they would reach 328, rising to 338 if the DUP, the independent unionist and the new Green MP joined them.