British Prime Minister Gordon Brown today offered to hold talks with Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg on the formation of a new government, if his discussions with David Cameron fail to reach an agreement.

David Cameron was today offered the keys to 10 Downing Street, after Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg said that the Conservatives had the “first right” to seek to form a government in Britain’s first hung Parliament since 1974.

A deflated Nick Clegg expressed his disappointment today at the Liberal Democrats’ poor showing in the British General Election.

NINETY minutes is a long time in politics. In last night’s hour-and-a-half TV debate between British prime ministerial contenders, the stilted exchanges of last week’s debuts gave way to old-fashioned squabbling.

BRITAIN’S first TV debate between potential prime ministers produced no classic clips of gaffes to be run again and again – but food for thought for viewers and voters.

Britain’s first TV debate between potential Prime Ministers produced no classic clips of gaffes to be run again and again – but plenty of food for thought for viewers and voters.

JAPAN’s ruling partyconceded a crushing defeat after 54 years of nearly unbroken rule as voters were poised to hand the opposition a landslide victory in nationwide elections, driven by economic anxiety and a powerful desire for change.

Japan’s ruling conservative party suffered a crushing defeat in elections Sunday as voters overwhelmingly cast their ballots in favour of a left-of-centre opposition camp that has promised to rebuild the economy and breathe new life into the country after 54 years of virtual one-party rule, media projections said.

Japan’s voters today went to the polls in hotly contested parliamentary elections in which the ruling conservative party, battered by a struggling economy and voter desire for change after more than half a century of virtual one-party rule, was expected to suffer an overwhelming defeat.

A £760,000 (€954,721) pay-off for the former chief of nationalised bank Northern Rock was today branded a “reward for failure”.

Japan’s scandal-embroiled agriculture minister resigned today, taking responsibility for a shattering election defeat for the ruling party.

Labour hopes to hold on to power in Wales today when voters go to the polls to elect 60 new Assembly members.

THE governing British Labour Party is expected to win a record third term in office in upcoming elections, but a loss of trust in leader Tony Blair and a revamped opposition may severely reduce their grip on power.

Europe’s outgoing Commissioner for Justice and Home Affairs tonight backed anti-gay Italian Rocco Buttiglione to take over the job as planned and not step down because of his personal views.

Former British cabinet minister and Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Mandelson was set to make a another political comeback today, as Britain’s new European Commissioner.

The hard-line Euro-sceptic UK Independence Party was today celebrating a night of stunning gains in the European elections as Labour and the Tories saw their support crash to record lows.

THE leader of Britain’s Liberal Democrats yesterday said he was “absolutely delighted” after his party took control of Newcastle.

British Prime Minister Tony Blair was today due to explain his role in events leading up to the apparent suicide of his government's weapons expert Dr David Kelly.

The Manchester Evening News was today waiting to hear whether Attorney General Lord Goldsmith would take action over an allegation that the newspaper breached a High Court injunction to protect the anonymity of James Bulger’s killers.

Charles Kennedy, leader of the Liberal Democrats, was in an optimistic mood as he kicked off his party’s campaign today ahead of Tony Blair’s expected General Election announcement.

Junichiro Koizumi, a fiery reformer, has been elected to lead Japan’s ruling party and replace Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori as premier.