Conservative David Cameron on brink of power in Britain, Labour appears to be bowing out

Britain’s David Cameron on brink of power

LONDON — British Prime Minister Gordon Brown resigned with a brief, emotional statement Tuesday, ending 13 years of the Labour Party government and paving the way for Conservative David Cameron to become the country’s next leader.

Standing outside 10 Downing St. alongside his wife Sarah, Brown announced he would travel to see Queen Elizabeth II to resign — allowing Cameron to take office with the expected support of Nick Clegg, leader of the third-placed Liberal Democrats.

“I have informed the queen’s private secretary that it is my intention to tender my resignation to the queen,” said Brown. He said he would ask the monarch to invite Cameron to form a government and wished the new leader well.

Brown then walked hand-in-hand with his wife and young sons John and Fraser down Downing Street, where a car waited to take him to the palace.

Brown’s resignation ends five days of uncertainty after last week’s general election left the country with no clear winner. Britain’s Conservatives won the most seats but fell short of a majority, forcing them and the Labour Party to woo the Liberal Democrats.

Negotiators for the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats met for several hours Tuesday, but emerged without confirming whether a deal had been struck. Conservative deputy chief William Hague said only that the atmosphere had been “positive.”

Brown’s resignation follows five days of sometimes tense talks following the country’s election, which produced no outright winner. It left Britain with its first hung Parliament since 1974, which no one party won a majority of seats in the House of Commons.

Cameron 43, will become the youngest British leader in nearly two centuries.

Brown’s departure follows three successive election victories for his center-left Labour Party, all of which were won by his predecessor Tony Blair, who ousted the Conservatives in 1997.