Uncharted territory

Uncharted territory

For most of us who've covered UK politics, this is uncharted territory.

We are unused to the hurried talks, detailed discussions and the hard bargaining of coalition building.

We normally see the one-in-one-out process of UK elections, where the loser leaves and the winner walks in immediately. And perhaps that is driving the expectation that a deal should be done quickly.

It's unseasonably cold in London, and the pavement outside the Cabinet Office is hardly a tourist attraction. The building is drab and grey and uninteresting. Yet dozens are here, standing quietly, watching and waiting.

Quite what they expect, I'm not sure, and I don't think they do either. But this is history in the making and I can understand why they want to be close to that.

Negotiations

The Liberal Democrats are first to arrive, their cars stopping a short distance from the front door, giving them a short walk in front of the cameras.

They say nothing. Their boss, Nick Clegg isn't here. But at his home several kilometres away, he said he's spoken by phone to Gordon Brown; a timely reminder to the Conservatives that if they don't get what the want, they could always walk down the street and talk to Labour.

The Conservatives are keen to speak. William Hague, with his flat Yorkshire vowels tells us they want: a "new, stable and legitimate government".

They talk in themes rather than detail of what they'll offer. But it's suggested to me that the Lib Dems could be given three cabinet places, interior minister, number two in the finance ministry and transport.

Seven hours later, they emerge. Conservatives first, the Liberal Democrats a few minutes behind. And their statements are very similar.

They tell us what they've agreed. It's no major surprise: cutting Britain's budget deficit and economic stability should be at the core of any new government.

They inform us of areas they've covered. It's a long list,  but missing, the issue which could create a breakthrough or a breakdown - voting reform.

Proportional representation

That is a key Liberal Democrat demand, yet the Conservatives aren't interested. Proportional representation creates the prospect of the Conservatives never ruling on their own again. The mere idea sends shivers down the spines of senior party figures.

Meanwhile, we discover that when Gordon Brown stepped across the street from his current Downing Street home into the foreign ministry, he was off to a meeting.

Brown was there for discussions with Clegg. Another reminder of the options he has.

There will be more discussions, we are told, in the coming hours. But there's no guarantee that in 24 hours we'll be clearer on who will be in a position to form and government or if Number 10 will have a new resident. It's not just the journalists in uncharted territory.