Cameron, Clegg Scramble to Form UK Government

Britain's winner-less election has left both the Conservatives and the Labour Party furiously negotiating with and sucking up to Nick Clegg's Liberal Democrat party, with papers just as furiously live-blogging the comings and goings. Though they actually lost seats, the Liberal Dems have the power to determine who becomes prime minister. Clegg has given himself until the end of the day to strike a deal, the Guardian reports, because he's afraid the public will rebel if he waits longer. But other Liberal Democrat sources tell the Times that it might not come until Thursday.

Clegg has promised to work with David Cameron first, because his Conservatives won the most seats, but Cameron has reportedly told Clegg that he won't bring a vote on electoral reform, the Liberal Dems' top priority. A Labour pairing would be more natural ideologically, and Clegg met with Gordon Brown yesterday. That'll amp up the pressure on Cameron, but many fear a Lib-Lab coalition would be seen as illegitimate, even if Gordon Brown steps down—which he's being pressured to do. Check out these liveblogs if you're dying for the latest who's-talking-to-whom drama.
(More British elections stories.)