Beaten Brown could cling to power

Gordon Brown could yet seek to cling to power even though the Tories appeared on course to win more seats in the election.

If the exit polls turn out to be correct and no party has an outright majority, the Prime Minister would get first chance to form a Government – and could outvote the Tories if he convinced the Liberal Democrats to form a coalition.

While a party technically needs 326 MPs for a majority in the Commons, in reality the figure is reduced because the Speaker, by convention, does not vote and Sinn Fein MPs have traditionally not taken up their seats at Westminster.

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If Mr Brown proves unable to form a government that has the confidence of the House of Commons it would be down to him to resign or lose a confidence motion in the Commons before Tory leader David Cameron gets the chance to govern.