As long as Gordon Brown stayed, a coalition between the Lib Dems and Labour was impossible. Now that he's on his way out, a coalition could very likely happen within the next day. Whoever manages to woo the Liberal Democrats still has a tough climb to reach the magic number and then to hold a coalition. Regardless of the outcome in the next day or two, the UK will probably be voting again soon enough.
The process of forming a new government may be resolved in the next 24 hours, according to a senior Liberal Democrat source who said it was "crunch time".
The Lib Dems have held talks with the Tories and Labour in a bid to form an alliance which could run the country.
Gordon Brown, whose presence in Downing Street was seen as harming Labour's chance of a deal, has announced he will step down as party leader by September.
