Lib Dem-Labour deal likely only if Brown steps down

London, May 9 (ANI): The Liberals are seriously exploring the possibility of a Lib-Lab pact to end the present political impasse, but the key to such an arrangement has to be the exit of Gordon Brown.

Nick Clegg is now considering a traffic-light coalition with the Labour Party, Greens and other smaller parties.

Labour Party MP John Mann told The Telegraph, "I found that there was a lot of support for Labour's approach on the economy, health and education, but there was little support for Gordon Brown to be Prime Minister. Gordon Brown's continuation as the party's leader rules out the credibility of a Lib/Lab pact that has to prioritise the modernisation and reform of the antiquated UK political systems and the continued stabilisation of the economy in partnership with the need to protect frontline public sector jobs and services."

Also whispers of the reportedly heated exchange between Clegg and Brown on the subject of a Lib-Lab pact further clouded the chances of such an alliance, though both sides have averred that the conversation was "constructive" .

"We have heard what the Labour Party and Gordon Brown are saying, but in line with the position Nick Clegg outlined yesterday we are continuing discussions with the Conservative Party as the party with the most seats and votes." The Telegraph quoted senior Lib Dem MP David Laws, and one of the party's negotiating team as saying.

Meanwhile, the political climate seems unfavorable to a possible Lib-Tory pact.

Influential members of the Lib-Dems are mounting pressure on Nick Clegg to turn down Cameron's proposition of a Lib-Con alliance because it is almost a cinch that the Tories would fail to deliver on Parliamentary Reforms (PR), The Telegraph reported.

The Lib-Cons met for "constructive" face-to-face talks to try to reach a deal before markets open tomorrow morning.

Earier, after a crucial meeting with his party in Westminster to gauge reaction to a Lib-Con coalition, Mr Clegg addressed a 1,000-strong crowd protesting in favour of electoral reform to insist that proportional representation was still key to the talks, the paper reported.

"Take it from me, reforming politics is one of the reasons I went into politics. I campaigned for a better, more open, more transparent new politics every single day of this general election campaign. I genuinely believe it is in the national interest, it is in the interests of everybody in Great Britain for us to use this opportunity to usher in a new politics after the discredited politics of the past," Nick Clegg told his supporters.

This puts Clegg in an unenviable position with the Tories' offering him a deal that makes clear that the Tories were going to make no concessions on electoral reforms. (ANI)