- Title: UK: Tories have first right to govern - Lib Dem leader
- Date: 9th May 2010
- Summary: LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM (MAY 7, 2010) (REUTERS) (** BEWARE FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY **) LIBERAL DEMOCRAT LEADER NICK CLEGG ARRIVES AT PARTY HEADQUARTERS SUPPORTERS CHEERS AS CLEGG IS SURROUNDED BY MEDIA (SOUNDBITE) (English) LIBERAL DEMOCRAT LEADER NICK CLEGG SAYING: "Many, many people during the election campaign were excited about the prospect of doing something different. "It seems that, when they came to vote, many of them in the end decided to stick with what they knew best. "At a time of great economic uncertainty I totally understand those feelings. "But that's not going to stop me from redoubling my efforts and our efforts to show that real change is the best reassurance that things can get better for people and their families, that it shouldn't be something that unsettles people." CLEGG MAKING STATEMENT ON STEPS OF LIB DEM HEADQUARTERS (SOUNDBITE) (English) LIBERAL DEMOCRAT LEADER NICK CLEGG SAYING: "As I've said before it seems to me in a situation like this, it's vital that all political parties, all political leaders, act in the national interest and not at narrow party political advantage. "I've also said that whichever party gets the most votes and the most seats, if not an absolute majority, has the first right to seek to govern, either on its own or by reaching out to other parties. "And I stick to that view. "It seems this morning that it's the Conservative Party that had more votes and more seats but not an absolute majority. "And that is why I think it is now for the Conservative Party to prove that it is capable of seeking to govern in the national interest." CLEGG MAKING STATEMENT ON STEPS OF LIB DEM HEADQUARTERS (SOUNDBITE) (English) LIBERAL DEMOCRAT LEADER NICK CLEGG SAYING: "So I repeat again my assurance that whatever happens in the coming hours and days and weeks, I will continue to argue not only for the greater fairness in British society, not only the greater responsibility in economic policy making, but also for the extensive real reforms that we need to fix our political system. Thank you." CLEGG WALKS AWAY TO APPLAUSE INTO PARTY HEADQUARTERS
- Embargoed: 24th May 2010 13:00
- Keywords:
- Topics: Domestic Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA6K1QLDYTR6JFYP6W7ULR0G3CT
- Story Text: Britain's opposition Conservatives win the most seats in parliament but fail to gain an overall majority; question now is which party will do a deal with another to form a coalition.The leader of the Liberal Democrats says the Conservatives should get the first chance to prove they are capable.
The British election has ended with no party winning an overall majority of seats.
It means the Liberal Democrats, who ended up in third place behind the Conservatives, who polled the most votes and won the most seats, and the incumbent Labour party, could still end up playing kingmaker.
Party leader Nick Clegg said he was disappointed that his party ended up with fewer MP's, but said it seemed when it came to the crunch British voters stuck with what they knew best, rather than trying for something different.
He said all political parties now had to work in the best interests of the nation.
"Whichever party gets the most votes and the most seats, if not an absolute majority, has the first right to seek to govern, either on its own or by reaching out to other parties," he said.
Clegg said therefore it was now for the Conservative Party to prove that it was capable of seeking to govern in the national interest.
The Liberal Democrats have championed the case for a reform of the electoral process in Britain. They want proportional representation rather than first past the post.
Clegg described the present voting system as "broken."
Behind the scenes parties will now be bargaining with each other to see if deals can be done to form a coalition government. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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