David Cameron Likely Next British Prime Minister

LONDON, May 7, 2010— -- In one of the closest elections in decades, with no clear winner the Conservative leader David Cameron will get a chance to form a new government for Britain, it emerged today.

His center-right Conservative party won the most seats in parliament, with Prime Minister Gordon Brown's Labour party in a close second, and the Liberal Democrats in third. The division of seats means that Britain has a hung parliament for the first time since 1974.

"It's the Mick Jagger election. It's no satisfaction. Everybody is utterly dissatisfied with the outcome." Peter Hennessy, a constitutional expert, told the BBC.

Cameron, as the head of the party with the most seats and thanks to a decision by Nick Clegg the Liberal Democrat leader, and kingmaker of this close election, will most likely be the country's next prime minister.

"Nick Clegg has said that, because the Conservative Party won the most votes and the most seats in this election, we should have the chance to form the government. And I thank him for that."

Political pundits are speculating over the various scenarios that could ensue, debating over which parties will form a coalition and when.

All three leaders have made it clear today that they are open to negotiations.

Clegg and Cameron are to meet tonight to discuss how their parties could work together in the future.

Brown recognized this in his statement today and said that Clegg and Cameron should "be entitled to take as much time as they feel necessary."

But Brown did not discount himself from participating in future government negotiations and went on to make his own overtures toward the Lib Dem leader, saying he was willing to discuss with him, "the areas where there may be some measure of agreement between our two parties."

One such area Brown highlighted is electoral reform, a key issue that was integral to Clegg's campaign, and something that Cameron in the past has said he doesn't want to change.

"There needs to be immediate legislation on this to begin to restore the public's trust in politics," Brown said today, reinforcing Clegg's earlier comments.