1245 GMT Gordon Brown strode out of Downing Streeting - his speech in hand.
The first indication of what was coming was he was alone. If he was about to quit, his wife Sarah would have been by his side.
He made it clear the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats could, and should, discuss a coalition, but the message was clear.
If it falls apart, then I'm free to chat. This is political poker.
Brown is essentially saying: "David have a go if you think you can form a government but I don't think you can. And if you lose, I get to go".
As he walked back in, I felt he was almost tempted to answer the questions we journalists shouted at him.
![[QODLink]](http://english.aljazeera.net/mritems/Images/2012/5/24/2012524105149565734_16.jpg "The Brotherhood and Mubarak")
