Power dealing: Senior Tories back talks with Lib Dems

As the dust settled on the result of a hung parliament all three main parties were trying to manoeuvre into the most influential position but the Tories were adamant Labour had no mandate to govern.

Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary Theresa May also said she thought the economy should be a bigger topic of discussion than electoral reform.

Mrs May said: "I think if we just look at the figures to see the magnitude of what has happened here, because Labour has now lost more seats than they've lost at any General Election since 1931 – and we, the Conservative Party, have gained more seats at any General Election since 1931.

"I find it slightly strange that, at a time when we're facing such severe economic problems in this country, when there are so many other problems in our society that we need to resolve, that the one issue that seems to be the key for the Liberal Democrats is indeed electoral reform."

Shadow Schools Secretary Michael Gove said: "It is certainly the case that David Cameron is happy to talk to people in other parties in order to ensure that we can have a strong, stable, Conservative-led government to provide the country with the change it needs."

But Labour hit back at claims that it should leave power, with deputy leader Harriet Harman indicating Mr Brown would not "throw in the towel" without making an effort to form a non-Tory government.

Ms Harman said: "If ultimately there is a majority of people who voted against the Conservatives and a majority of MPs who are not Tories and they can work together, then actually that is a majority government and therefore reflects the way the country has voted."