<p>The centre-right Conservatives failed to gain an overall majority in the 650-seat House of Commons, creating the first “hung parliament” since 1974, but they were comfortably ahead of the ruling centre-left Labour Party, in power for 13 years.<br />Conservative leader David Cameron said Britain urgently needed a strong government to reassure jittery markets that it was serious about tackling the deficit, which exceeds 11 per cent of national output.<br /><br />“No government will be in the national interest unless it deals with the biggest threat to our national interest, and that is the deficit. We remain completely convinced that starting to deal with the deficit this year is essential,” Cameron said. He said one possibility was a minority Conservative government seeking support from other parties issue by issue, but he would also make a coalition offer to the centrist, Lib Dems, who came third after Labour in the election. “I want to make a big, open and comprehensive offer to the Liberal Democrats. I want us to work together in tackling our country's big and urgent problems,” he said. <br />Reuters <br /></p>
<p>The centre-right Conservatives failed to gain an overall majority in the 650-seat House of Commons, creating the first “hung parliament” since 1974, but they were comfortably ahead of the ruling centre-left Labour Party, in power for 13 years.<br />Conservative leader David Cameron said Britain urgently needed a strong government to reassure jittery markets that it was serious about tackling the deficit, which exceeds 11 per cent of national output.<br /><br />“No government will be in the national interest unless it deals with the biggest threat to our national interest, and that is the deficit. We remain completely convinced that starting to deal with the deficit this year is essential,” Cameron said. He said one possibility was a minority Conservative government seeking support from other parties issue by issue, but he would also make a coalition offer to the centrist, Lib Dems, who came third after Labour in the election. “I want to make a big, open and comprehensive offer to the Liberal Democrats. I want us to work together in tackling our country's big and urgent problems,” he said. <br />Reuters <br /></p>
