Brown heads for Commons as talks continue

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 Lib Dems resumed this morning after Mr Brown announced yesterday that he would stand down as leader.

But Nick Clegg’s party have not ruled out striking an agreement with the Conservatives, who are still hopeful of tempting the third party with the promise of a referendum on voting reform.

David Cameron said this morning that it was ``decision time'' for the Liberal Democrats, while a senior Lib Dem described today as ``crunch time'' in the efforts to establish a viable government following last week's inconclusive General Election.

As he left his home in west London this morning, Mr Cameron said: “I’ve made a very full, very open, very reasonable offer to the Liberal Democrats to deliver that stable government.

“My own Members of Parliament have shown that they are prepared to put aside party interest in the national interest by agreeing a referendum on the Alternative Vote.

“It’s now, I believe, decision time – decision time for the Liberal Democrats - and I hope they make the right decision to give this country the strong, stable government that it badly needs and it badly needs quickly.”

Mr Clegg declined to say whether he felt a resolution could be achieved today.

The Lib Dem leader said: “I’m certainly hopeful of getting a resolution as quickly as possible.

“I can’t put a specific time on it.”

Liberal Democrat MPs are due to meet in Westminster today to discuss the latest progress in talks.

Meanwhile, potential successors to Mr Brown – who yesterday announced his intention to step down – this morning dodged questions about whether they would be candidates in the race to be Labour leader.