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WhileBritain his negotiating team was locked in talks with the Tories, met Gordon Brown. Liberal on Democrat members had been furious athold his earlier promise to talk exclusively to the Conservatives

6 Power vacuum ‘could last until Thursday’ 6 Deficit plan to be at heart of agreement

Roland Watson, Sam Coates any agreed programme for govern- referendum on proportional represen- give away in negotiations. He will Francis Elliott ment. There were no details about how tation. He reminded Mr Clegg that the No way back to the address his MPs today. such a programme would look. overlap between their parties was Mr Brown returned from Scotland to Nick Clegg is making Tory sources suggested that a deal — much greater than that between the Material World of Downing Street amid growing expecta- sweat as the pair edge towards a deal short of full coalition but with agree- Lib Dems and the Tories. tion that he would resign as Labour that would put the Conservative leader ment on a range of legislation — was But Mr Clegg did not appear to bite. the 80s leader later this week. Lord Turnbull, in Downing Street. within reach today. Liberal Democrats, Later he sat down with Mr Cameron on the former Cabinet Secretary, said that Libby Purves, Mr Brown was correct to remain in Both sides will resume talks today. however, described this as “optimistic”. “neutral territory” in Portcullis House, page 21 Their negotiating teams spent nearly A senior source said: “It’s more impor- the MPs’ office block, for their first No 10 while the other parties tried to six hours at the yester- tant to get this right than to be hasty. face-to-face talks of the day. reach a deal. “Not only is he entirely Also within his rights, that is exactly what day, trying to thrash out an agreement, But we need to reach a deal before the Both leaders came under pressure Leading article, but Liberal Democrat sources suggest- public turns against the process.” from party members over voting re- we would expect him to do,” he said. page 2 Ministers will return to their depart- ed that it might be Thursday before Yesterday afternoon Mr Clegg in- form, the key Lib Dem issue. Senior To- Reports and Mr Cameron could think about walk- creased the pressure on Mr Cameron ries warned Mr Cameron to steer clear ments today, although by convention analysis, they remain in “purdah” and will avoid ing into No 10. by sitting down for 70 minutes in the of it or risk a mutiny. Lib Dems warned pages 4-11 , who led the talks for Foreign Office with Gordon Brown. Mr Clegg that he would break the party contentious decisions. One Cabinet the Tories, and Danny Alexander, his The Prime Minister, who had said if he helped the Tory leader into power. minister said that he had asked his civil Lib Dem counterpart, tried to reassure previously that his rivals should take as Mr Cameron spent much of the servants what work there would be to the markets by announcing that cut- much time as they needed to try to find afternoon holding an “open office” do. “They haven’t given me a very clear ting the deficit would be at the heart of agreement, offered the Lib Dems a full to try to calm alarm at what he might answer,” he told The Times.