Lib Dem leader Clegg ready for coalition talks with Cameron's Tories

London, May 7 (ANI): Liberal Democratic leader Nick Clegg has said that his party will offer Conservative Party leader David Cameron the first chance to form a coalition government rather than Labour leader Gordon Brown after the British public elected a hung Parliament.

Clegg and his party have emerged as kingmakers,though they have lost a net seven Parliament seats.

Clegg's statement came even as Gordon Brown issued a statement saying that he had authorised the civil service to facilitate coalition talks because no party could now win a majority.

Clegg said he had consistently argued that it was the party with the most seats and votes that should get first tilt at government rather than the incumbent.

"I stick to that view. It seems this morning that it is the Conservative Party which has more votes and more seats - although not an absolute majority - which is why I now think that it is the Conservative Party which should seek to govern in the national interest," The Times quoted Clegg, as saying.

Clegg said it was clear that when the time came to vote, people "decided to stick with what they knew best". (ANI)