Labour leader Ed Miliband is to stand down as party leader following sweeping losses in Scotland and with David Cameron close to an overall majority, according to reports.

Voters in the North have started going to the polls in an election that could see their MPs influencing the shape of the next British government.

One of the most keenly-contested British General Election campaigns in decades enters its final full day with politicians engaged in desperate eleventh-hour efforts to seize a decisive advantage.

Employers are to be made responsible for drink and drug testing staff, Cabinet ministers are today set to discuss new measures to address cases where people do not pay water charges and Mourinho agrees a new Chelsea deal. These are some of the latest and most read news stories on irishexaminer.com this morning.

There was no clear winner of last night's UK leaders debate for the country's upcoming general election.

“Am I tough enough? Hell yes I'm tough enough."

Former British Prime Minister Gordon Brown's attempts to hold on to power were thwarted by Nick Clegg's demand that he step aside as part of any coalition between Labour and the Liberal Democrats, it was reported today.

British Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg mounted a passionate defence of the UK's coalition government tonight as he took questions from the public.

Calls for Peter Robinson to stand down are a desperate attempt to deflect attention from Ulster Unionist splits, Democratic Unionist Sammy Wilson MLA said today.

Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg was today facing questions from grassroots party members today regarding his decision to go into coalition with Conservatives.

Reg Empey today confirmed he will step down as Ulster Unionist leader in the autumn after a disappointing election campaign.

David Miliband is the first candidate to throw his hat into the ring for the Labour leadership in Britain.

British Prime Minister David Cameron today declared that his new coalition with the Liberal Democrats would be united behind the "one key purpose" of giving the UK strong and stable leadership for the long term.

Bank of England Governor Mervyn King today gave his approval to the new ruling coalition's fiscal plans, declaring himself "very pleased" by what he had seen.

The Taoiseach has congratulated David Cameron on becoming the new British Prime Minister.

David Cameron and Nick Clegg shook hands on the steps of Number 10 Downing Street today before getting down to the business of running the country.

Former British home secretary Alan Johnson today ruled himself out as a contender for the Labour leadership, announcing he will back David Miliband in the upcoming contest to succeed Gordon Brown.

David Cameron will begin work today on putting together his historic new coalition government with the Liberal Democrats.

The Liberal Democrat Party formally ratified the coalition deal with the Conservatives early today.

US President Barack Obama thanked Gordon Brown for his “friendship” and “strong leadership” today while congratulating his successor and inviting him to Washington.

George Osborne was confirmed as Chancellor of the Exchequer and William Hague as Foreign Secretary in the new Conservative/Liberal Democrat coalition British Government.

David Cameron entered 10 Downing Street as Prime Minister tonight promising to lead Britain through to “better times ahead”.

Conservatives leader David Cameron has arrived at Buckingham Palace tonight to accept an invitation from Queen Elizabeth II to form a new British government.

Minutes after Gordon Brown left Downing Street after announcing his immediate resignation, a few hundred yards away talks ended between Liberal Democrat and Tory negotiators on a future British government.

Gordon Brown has told friends he plans to resign as an MP and leave politics, sources have said.

Gordon Brown has resigned as British Prime Minister and also said he was resigning immediately as Labour leader.

Gordon Brown has stepped down as British Prime Minister.

David Cameron's Conservatives were tonight on the brink of an historic deal with the Liberal Democrats which will see Cameron finally installed as British Prime Minister.

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown’s attempts to strike a power-sharing deal with the Liberal Democrats were severely undermined today as a string of senior Labour figures spoke out against the move.

The London Evening Standard newspaper is reporting that Gordon Brown is to stand down as British Prime Minister tonight.

Liberal Democrat negotiators were this afternoon returning to discussions with Conservatives after spending the morning locked in talks with Labour over a possible coalition deal, it was announced today.

High level contacts have been made with the Democratic Unionist Party as talks to secure a coalition government at Westminster intensify, it was revealed today.

Gordon Brown today left 10 Downing Street for the House of Commons, where senior Labour lieutenants were locked in negotiations with Liberal Democrats on a possible coalition deal.

Formal negotiations between Labour and the Liberal Democrats resumed in the House of Commons today, as the parties struggled to form a viable government five days after the UK general election.

David Cameron insisted today that it was “decision time” for the Liberal Democrats as power-sharing talks ran into their fifth day.

Negotiations between the UK political parties over the shape of the next government were reaching a heightened pitch today, with some sources expecting a conclusion before the end of the day.

The Tories tonight offered the Liberal Democrats a referendum on electoral reform in a final bid to secure a coalition that would support David Cameron as prime minister.

Gordon Brown tonight announced he will resign as Labour leader – but offered to stay on as British Prime Minister in a potential power-sharing government with the Liberal Democrats until his party has chosen a successor.

Gordon Brown announced this evening he was quitting as Labour leader as he revealed that Nick Clegg had requested formal talks with his party over a future British government.

Liberal Democrat MPs today called for “clarification” of a possible deal with the Tories, including on the key issue of electoral reform.

Peter Robinson received unanimous backing from Democratic Unionist members of the Northern Ireland Assembly today following the loss of his East Belfast Westminster seat.

Hopes of an historic power-sharing deal between the Tories and Liberal Democrats in the UK rose today as the party leaders began talks with key colleagues about the negotiations.

The Tories left power-sharing talks with the Liberal Democrats today, declaring “further progress” had been made towards deciding if David Cameron could seal a deal to take him to No 10.

Nick Clegg promised today to reach a decision on power-sharing negotiations as quickly as possible – but warned that any agreement would need to “stand the test of time”.