Brown to quit for sake of Labour

The Conservatives have been talking to the Liberal Democrats to try to form a government, but Brown said in a dramatic statement delivered in front of his official residence at 10 Downing Street the Lib Dems also wanted to talk to Labour.

“Mr Clegg has just informed me that while he intends to continue his dialogue that he has begun with the Conservatives, he now wishes also to take forward formal discussions with the Labour Party,” Brown said, adding that he would facilitate those talks. “I have no desire to stay in my position longer than is needed to ensure the path to economic growth is assured and the process of political reform we have agreed moves forward quickly,” Brown said.

“As leader of my party I must accept that that (the election result)is a judgment on me. I, therefore, intend to ask the Labour Party to set in train the processes needed for its own leadership election,” he said.

The prime minister did not give a precise timeframe for his departure, but said he hoped it would be done by the time of the Labour Party conference, which is scheduled for late September.