forming a government

We mustn't let constitutionalists take over our parliamentary conventions. The way you win British elections is to secure a plurality of seats in the house of commons. The sitting prime minister advises the monarch to ask the leader of that party with a plurality (maybe his or her own) to form a government. If the plurality-leader fails, he or she goes to the country.

Mr Brown (and Mr Heath) was/were wrong to hang on in Downing Street. The plurality-party has the right to govern. This system is similar to the way that individual constituencies' results are determined; you don't need a majority - just one more vote than the other bloke. This principle should be the only guiding rule of any decisions after 7 May.

Also, I suggest that any coalitions and/or confidence-deals are worked out in parliament (both houses), not in smoke-filled Whitehall rooms. Our governments come from the people via parliament; they should not be foisted on the people by the parties in backroom deals.