Global General

British election delivers 'hung parliament'

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-05-07 23:19

LONDON - The British general election has produced a "hung parliament" as no party wins an absolute majority, preliminary results showed Friday.

Among the 615 declared seats, Conservatives garnered 290 seats, the Labor Party 247, the Liberal Democratic Party 51 and other smaller parties 27, ITV News reported citing preliminary results.

With 35 seats yet to be decided, the Conservatives are definitely unable to gain the 326 seats needed for an overall majority, though it will become the largest party in parliament.

It will the first time since 1974 that Britain faces a government with no single party majority.

Conservative Party leader David Cameron said earlier: "What is clear from these results is that the country, our country, wants change. That change is going to require new leadership," Cameron said.

Incumbent Prime Minister Gordon Brown, also leader of Labor Party, pledged to "do his duty" in helping to "lead Britain into sustained economic recovery," while his future remains uncertain.

Under Britain's constitution, the sitting prime minister in a hung parliament makes the first attempt at forming a ruling coalition.

Liberal Democrat Party leader Nick Clegg declared: "This has been a disappointing night for the Liberal Democrats, adding that "We simply haven't achieved what we hoped."

But Clegg remains on course to figure as "kingmaker" in any discussions toward a potential coalition.