Britain inching towards new government
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
London, May 10, IRNA – British political leaders Monday were inching towards the formation of a new government, although its composition remains unclear three days after last week’s general election result ended in deadlock.
David Cameron’s Conservatives, which are now the largest party in the 650-seat House of Commons, held almost seven hours of “very positive” negotiations on Sunday with the Liberal Democrats, who hold the balance of power.
Further talks are expected but it was uncertain whether the Lib Dems, who have been out of office for nearly 90 years, would enter a formal coalition given the ideological difference or more likely agree on a pact to support a minority Conservative government.
There is also the possibility of the negotiations collapsing that could lead to the Lib Dems joining a rainbow coalition with defeated prime minister Gordon Brown’s Labour Party as well as with Scottish, Welsh and Irish nationalists that would be needed to gain a parliamentary majority.
All parties have stressed the importance of forming a stable government due to the economic problems facing the country, but important in the power-sharing talks are the Lib Dem’s demands for electoral reform.
The next 24-hours are expected to be crucial on whether Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg decides to back Cameron in forming a government, or instead risk a more politically sensitive deal with Labour, even though it has gone further in supporting electoral reform.
Speculation is that Brown, who has remained as caretaker prime minister, may be prepared to stand down and become a transitional leader of a rainbow coalition until a replacement is elected, with Foreign Secretary David Miliband favourite to take over.
In any event, the alternative is that Brown will be forced to official tender his resignation to make way for Cameron to succeed as prime minister of a Conservative-led government.
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