UK Election: Labour tries to hold on to power, Tories short of majority

British voters registered their disapproval of the Labour Party government in general elections on Thursday, giving the opposition Conservatives the highest number of seats in the Parliament but not enough to form a government.

The breakdown of seats shows that the Tories got 306 seats, a gain of 97 seats but still 20 short of a majority. The result shows a five per cent Labour swing to the Tories.

The incumbent Labour Party came second with 258 seats, a loss of 91 constituencies with the Liberal Democrats trailing with 57 seats.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown is refusing to hand over the keys to 10 Downing Street, hoping to build a formal coalition with the Liberal Democrats and other parties to stay in government.

Even with the full support of the Liberals Brown will need to join the other paarties to form a government.

Popular opinion is Britain is that he should hand over power to the Tories.

But the Prime Minister is claiming that as the incumbent he is entitled to have the first opportunity to try to form a government.

Full deatils: Brown battles to cling on to power
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