The hung pretenders

It may be days - or even weeks - before we have a clear idea of who really holds power. All sides have key demands which they insist must be met before any alliances are formed and which will lead to stalemate unless some flexibility is found. Nick Clegg's refusal to work under Gordon Brown had led many to identify a Lib-Lab coalition with David Miliband or Alan Johnson as prime minister as the most likely outcome of a hung parliament. But the Lib Dems' disappointing showing has undermined Clegg's claim to act as kingmaker. Perhaps more significantly, polling just 23% also impacts the...