This should be an interesting election to watch unfold...

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown announces May 6 UK election

    * From correspondents in London
    * From: AFP Link to story
    * April 06, 2010 7:59PM


BRITAIN'S general election will be held on May 6, Prime Minister Gordon Brown announced in Downing Street today.

The British leader had earlier that day  left his office at 10 Downing Street in central London at

10am (9pm AEST) for the short drive to Buckingham Palace to ask the Queen for permission to dissolve parliament.

The Queen had been enjoying an Easter break at Windsor Castle but returned to Buckingham Palace by helicopter minutes ahead of her meeting with Mr Brown.

The election is expected to be the most tightly fought in nearly two decades, with Labour and the opposition Conservative Party battling to win over voters based on the merits of their rival plans to support Britain's economic recovery.

Fresh opinion polls published today had both parties poised for a tough battle over the next four weeks, with a hung parliament a distinct possibility.

Last night saw the first ever British televised leaders' debate of the main 3 parties' race to be Prime Minister.
video clips:
http://www.youtube.com/user/ITV1#grid/user/3AD2BAC8959AF362

The Polls seem to be looking toward a very close three horse race  

Oh we've been discussing this on my forum I hope Liberal doesn't win!

anyone but labour....................

I'll paste something I wrote on my forum, my rankings on their policies: (it started a 3 page discussion on private vs public schools )

IMMIGRATION - Conservatives - Liberal - Labor

ECONOMY - Labour (cutting benefits?)- Conservatives - Liberal

HEALTHCARE - Labour - Conservatives - Liberal

EDUCATION - Woah woah they are all bad ohmy.gif and the 11+ test sounds cool.
Labour --------------------------- Liberal ------------------------------------- Conservative (NO WAY boo private schools getting government funding!)

ENVIRONMENT - Conservative - Labour - Liberal

FOREIGN AFFAIRS - Liberal - Conservative - Labour

so
Conservatives = 13
Labour = 13
Liberal = 10

Methinks Labour is in for a crushing defeat.  

I hope Labour stays in, then the exchange rate might get even better....lol

I've been watching the election with an interest I didn't know I had.  

This is the first hung parliament since 1974.  Historically coalition governments are rare in the UK.

Here's how things might "pan out"...

• There are 650 seats in the House of Commons up for grabs at the election. One party needs to win at least 326 to secure a clear majority. Exit polls indicate the Conservatives have won 307, Labour 255 and the Liberal Democrats 59. *
  

• If this does translate into a hung parliament when results come through, Gordon Brown as incumbent prime minister will have the first shot at trying form a government - either as a minority or in coalition with others, probably including the Liberal Democrats.
  

• If Mr Brown did manage to do this, he would then go to the House of Commons to see if his government could survive a motion of confidence, probably after the state opening of parliament and the Queen's speech on May 25.
  

• But if Mr Brown could not form a government or did not survive the motion of confidence, he would be expected to hand in his resignation to Queen Elizabeth II.
  

• The monarch would then be likely to invite David Cameron, leader of the main opposition Conservatives, to try to form a government. That, again, could be a minority or coalition administration.
  

• If no government can command the confidence of the House of Commons, parliament can be dissolved and another election held...
  

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/05/07/2892857.htm

* According to the BBC Conservatives 306, Labour 258, Liberal Democrats 57

http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/election_2010/8670411.stm

Quoted Text

Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg has met Conservative leader David Cameron for talks about the possibility of their parties forming a new government.

A Conservative Party spokeswoman said the private 70-minute talks were "constructive and amicable".

The Tories won most election votes and MPs but are short of a majority.

In an e-mail message to supporters, Mr Cameron said he would not be "rushed into any agreement" but may be able to give "ground" in some areas.

Gordon Brown remains prime minister and has offered the Lib Dems talks if no deal is reached with the Conservatives.

http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/election_2010/8670443.stm

Conservative and Lib Dem power-sharing talks to resume

Senior Conservatives and Liberal Democrats are due to resume a third day of talks on forming a government.

On Sunday they spent six hours in "very positive" talks and the party leaders met for a 45-minute discussion.

Both sides said economic stability would be key to any agreement - it also emerged Mr Clegg met Gordon Brown to discuss a potential deal.

Labour Chancellor Alistair Darling said he hoped that the talks would be resolved one way or another today.

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."

EU talks

While the Tories and Lib Dems see if they can reach an agreement, Mr Darling is still representing Britain as its chancellor in talks with other EU finance ministers to discuss the Greek crisis.


TIMETABLE

• Sunday, 1100 BST: Lib Dem and Tory negotiating 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 Parliament
  

• Monday, 0800 BST: Markets open
  

• Monday morning: Conservative and Lib Dem negotiating teams to reconvene
  

• Monday, 1800 BST: Conservative MPs meet
  

Gordon Brown has offered the Lib Dems talks if no agreement is reached with the Conservatives - he has already offered a referendum on electoral reform - a key concern of the Lib Dems.

But former Conservative prime minister Sir John Major told the BBC he did not believe Labour could deliver what the Lib Dems want - proportional representation - as many Labour MPs were "more deeply opposed to proportional representation than the most die hard Conservative".

"They can't deliver the promises I now hear are being whispered in the ears of the Liberal Democrats," Sir John said.

'Amicable discussion'

Mr Brown and Mr Clegg met at the Foreign Office, after Mr Brown arrived back at Downing Street on Sunday afternoon from his home in Scotland.

A Downing Street spokesman told the BBC it had been an "amicable discussion".

Mr Cameron was aware of the meeting.

The Conservative negotiating team consists of shadow foreign secretary William Hague, shadow chancellor George Osborne, policy chief Oliver Letwin and chief of staff Ed Llewellyn.

Their Lib Dem counterparts are MPs Chris Huhne - Lib Dem home affairs spokesman - Andrew Stunell, David Laws and chief of staff Danny Alexander.

They will resume talks on Monday, and Conservative MPs are due to meet later in the day.

The Tories won the most votes and MPs in Thursday's election, but are short of a majority and are seeking support from the Lib Dems to form a government.

Gordon Brown remains prime minister, and government business continues, with Chancellor Alistair Darling attending a meeting of finance ministers in Brussels.

'Economic uncertainty'

On Sunday, emerging from the Cabinet Office after a day of talks, Mr Hague said: "The issues that we have covered have included political reform, economic issues and reduction of the deficit, banking reform, civil liberties, environmental issues."

He added that both sides "agreed that a central part of any agreement that we make will be economic stability and the reduction of the budget deficit".

Minutes later, Mr Alexander also made a brief statement, describing the talks as wide-ranging and "good", and also emphasising that deficit reduction was important.

Also on Sunday Mr Brown met Business Secretary Peter Mandelson, advisor Alastair Campbell, energy secretary Ed Miliband and deputy leader Harriet Harman in Downing Street.

And in an e-mail to Labour activists the prime minister thanked them for their work throughout the election."The past few days have seen us enter a political landscape not considered possible a few short weeks ago - with the outcome of the election leading to no single party able to form a majority government," he wrote.

"My duty as prime minister has been to seek to resolve this situation."

Several Labour backbenchers have called for Mr Brown to step down.

Scotland's First Minister, SNP leader Alex Salmond, has called on the Lib Dems to join a "progressive alliance" involving Labour, the SNP and Plaid Cymru.

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.

The Thirsk and Malton seat - where the election was postponed after the death of a candidate - is 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 be the largest grouping. With the support of the Northern Irish SDLP, one Alliance MP, and nationalists from Scotland and Wales they would reach 330, rising to 338 if the DUP, the independent unionist and the new Green MP joined them.


http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/election_2010/8671661.stm

Why is Gordon Brown still in Downing Street, he lost the election  ??

John Howard did not immediately move out of the official residence when he lost.  I guess it is the same in the UK.  And technically he hasn't lost... yet.  It's still a hung parliament.

Brown resigns, Cameron becomes PM
By Europe Correspondent Emma Alberici and wires

British prime minister Gordon Brown has resigned and Conservatives' Leader David Cameron has been invited by the Queen to form Britain's next Government.

The announcement came as the Conservatives appeared to be finalising a power-sharing deal with the third-placed Liberal Democrats.

Gordon Brown made a statement outside Number 10 Downing Street - the place he, his wife and two sons have called home for the past three years.

"I've informed the Queen's private secretary that it is my intention to tender my resignation to the Queen," Mr Brown said, his voice cracking with emotion.

"Above all it was a privilege to serve. I loved this job for its potential to make this country I love fairer, more tolerant, more green, more democratic, more prosperous and more just - truly a greater Britain.

"I wish the next prime minister well as he makes the important choices for the future."

Immediately afterwards he and his wife Sarah were driven from Downing Street to Buckingham Palace for Mr Brown to offer his resignation to the Queen.

A statement issued by the palace afterward said the Queen had accepted his resignation.

Former British prime minister Tony Blair paid tribute to his successor's "dignity, courage and leadership," following his resignation.

"I spoke to Gordon Brown tonight in a warm conversation that reflected a friendship of almost 30 years' duration," Mr Blair said, who handed over to his long-term friend turned rival in 2007.


New prime minister

In a speech outside Downing Street minutes after taking office David Cameron announced he intended to form a "strong" coalition government to tackle the issues facing the country.

He says Britain has "deep and pressing problems" which his new government will act swiftly to confront.

"I aim to form a proper and full coalition between the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats," Mr Cameron said.

"I believe that is the right way to provide this country with the strong, the stable, the good and decent government that I think we need so badly."

Mr Cameron says he and Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg "want to put aside party differences and work hard for the common good and for the national interest".

"I believe that is the best way to get the strong government that we need, decisive government that we need today."

He says there are many challenges facing his coalition government.

"We have some deep and pressing problems - a huge deficit, deep social problems, a political system in need of reform," he said.

Mr Cameron paid tribute to his predecessor Gordon Brown for his "long record of dedicated public service" and said that after 13 years of Labour rule, Britain was "more open at home and more compassionate abroad".

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd congratulated Mr Cameron and says he will be speaking to him today.

"I've met Mr Cameron a couple of times. I think the Australian UK relationship goes beyond party politics," he said.

A United States White House spokesman said president Barack Obama had phoned Mr Cameron to congratulate him.


Electoral reform

In last Thursday's general election, the Conservatives won 306 seats in the 650-member House of Commons - 20 short of a clear majority - followed by Labour on 258 and the Lib Dems on 57.

The agreement to form a coalition government - details of which have yet to be announced - was hammered out in five days of tense negotiations after no party won an outright majority in the general election.

Earlier Tuesday, Mr Cameron had piled pressure on Mr Clegg's party to decide which way to jump after he offered a referendum on their touchstone issue of electoral reform.

"It's now I believe decision time, decision time for the Liberal Democrats," Mr Cameron said.

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

Labour and the Lib Dems are ideologically closer, on the left of the political spectrum, than the Conservatives and Lib Dems, although the electoral arithmetic of a Tory/Lib Dem deal is stronger.

Details of the coalition between the Liberal Democrats and the Conservatives are yet to be released although Tory George Osbourne has been confirmed as Chancellor.

Foreign secretary David Miliband is the odds-on favourite to replace Mr Brown as Labour leader.

- ABC/AFP

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/05/12/2896806.htm

"Prime Minister Gordon Brown has stepped down. Evidently he wants to spend more time boring his family." - Stephen Colbert

Pot, kettle, black...

Not guilty, me Lud....

Quoted from aquamonkey

So which of the moderators added their own text to my post?

Tasman and I have conferred and neither of us changed/added text to your post Aqua.  

LB and I have had a chat and I don't know anything about it.

I just looked through this thread and have noticed one of the posts I made a day or so ago is gone.  I don't recall deleting it, but may have; I did delete one but thought it was in the Kevin Rudd thread...  

Ah, the phantom Mod again.........lol