Election latest: 'Bear with us', says Clegg

Liberal Democrats leader Nick Clegg today told Britain to "bear with us" as his party begins a third day of talks with the Tories about forming a government.

Clegg said the two parties were "working flat out" to agree on a deal after last week's General Election resulted in a hung parliament, writes the BBC.

Sustaining Britain's economic recovery will be central to any deal between the parties.

Representatives from both sides said economic stability and the reduction of the budget deficit were among the central issues discussed during six hours of negotiations on Sunday.

The Tories won both the most seats and the most votes in last Thursday's election, but are short of a majority and are seeking support from the Lib Dems to form a government.

Party leaders Nick Clegg and David Cameron also had a 45-minute face-to-face discussion yesterday, their second since Friday, although it has emerged Clegg has also met Gordon Brown to discuss a potential deal.

The Prime Minister indicated on Friday he would be willing to talk to the Lib Dems if no agreement is reached between Clegg's party and the Conservatives.

Emerging from the Cabinet Office after a day of talks yesterday, shadow foreign secretary and former party leader William Hague said: "The issues that we have covered have included political reform, economic issues and reduction of the deficit, banking reform, civil liberties, environmental issues."

He added that both sides "agreed that a central part of any agreement that we make will be economic stability and the reduction of the budget deficit".

Speaking on Sunday before the talks Nick Clegg said: "I'm very keen the Liberal Democrats should play a constructive role at a time of great economic uncertainty to provide a good government that this country deserves."

Experts agree a deal needs to be reached as soon as possible to "calm" markets which have been in near-freefall since it became clear no party had established a majority in the 7 May election.