UK Election Produces No Outright Winner

Britain woke up to a new political scene Friday (May 7): the first hung parliament for 36 years

No overall majority for either of the two major parties, but the opposition Conservatives won more votes and more seats.

However, for the time being, Labour Prime Minister Gordon Brown is staying put.

[Gordon Brown, British Prime Minister]:
"What we have seen are no ordinary election results. People have been talking for some time, inside and outside government, about the possibility of a hung parliament and that possibility has now become very real and pressing. The question for all the political parties now is whether a parliamentary majority can be established that seeks to reflect what you, the British people, have just told us."

Brown needs a deal with the third-placed Liberal Democrats if Labour are to form a coalition government.

Senior Labour Minister Lord Mandelson knows talks are urgently needed.

[Peter Mandelson, Senior Labour Minister]:
"We've been given our marching orders by the public and we've now got to have those discussions."

Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg, who rose to prominence during historic TV debates, but whose star faded come results night, can still be kingmaker.

First, he'll find out what the Conservatives are offering.

[Nick Clegg, Liberal Democrat Leader]:
"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."

Conservative party leader David Cameron appeared keen to take the Lib Dems on board.

[David Cameron, Conservative Party Leader]:
"I want us to work together in tackling our country's big and urgent problems, the debt crisis, our deep social problems and our broken political system."

But there are many issues that split the parties, and compromises must be reached.

Labour, thirteen years in power, are not prepared to say goodbye without a fight.