David Cameron has become the new prime minister of Britain after Gordon Brown brought to an end 13 years of Labour government.
Following days of increasingly tense negotiations in the aftermath of Thursday’s election, Mr Brown finally accepted it was time to concede defeat after the Liberal Democrats indicated any chance of an alliance with Labour was over.
Mr Brown emerged from No.10 Downing Street to announce his resignation as prime minister and Labour Party leader.
With wife Sarah beside him, he talked emotionally of his time as leader and said he had always strived to serve.
Describing the role of prime minister as “the second most important job I could ever hold”, he said he now cherished even more the first — that of a husband and father.
Then joined by sons John and Fraser, the Browns left to be driven to Buckingham Palace where Mr Brown formally tendered his resignation.
Within the hour, Mr Cameron had made his way to the palace where he accepted the Queen’s invitation to form a government.
Arriving at No.10 with wife Samantha, Mr Cameron said it was his intention to form a “proper and full” coalition with Nick Clegg and the Lib Dems and he warned of “difficult” days and choices ahead.
He pledged his government would always look after the elderly, frail and poorest in society and said he and Mr Clegg “want to put aside party differences and work hard for the common good and the national interest.”
He also paid tribute to the outgoing government, saying it had left Britain “more open at home and more compassionate abroad”.
He also thanked Mr Brown for his “long record of dedicated public service.”For more on tonight’s developments, including full reaction from Mr Brown’s Fife constituency, see tomorrow’s Courier.