UK Election On Home Straight

The final day of the UK General election is nearly upon us with the three main parties battling for votes.

With polls still indicating that Britain is on course for a hung parliament, David Cameron pledged to go "all out" for a convincing Tory victory as he embarked on a gruelling final push to convince undecided voters.

But Gordon Brown and Nick Clegg are matching him every step of the way in a cross-country blitz as the battle reaches its climax.

PM Gordan Brown has visited market workers in Leeds and said he wants as many Labour votes as possible - rather than backing anti-Tory tactical voting.

After campaigning all night David Cameron, conservative leader, has said the race is close and he will work hard for every vote.

Meanwhile Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg is visiting Eastbourne, Durham and Sheffield also in an attempt to win round undecided voters.

The Prime Minister will have been buoyed by a daily YouGov poll for The Sun suggesting Labour has picked up ground on 30%, five points behind the Tories and six ahead of the Liberal Democrats.

Due to the way the electoral system works, the findings could leave Mr Brown in charge of the largest party if repeated evenly nationwide on Thursday.

As the 'big day' looms headlines are dominated with the question 'what happens in a hung parliament?'

The BBC describe a hung parliament as "no single party having enough MPs - 326 - to win parliamentary votes without the support of members of other parties."

If a majority does not take office on Friday Mr Brown will remain in 10 Downing Street until the first meeting of the new parliament, unless he resigns.

The government needs to hold the confidence of a majority in the House of Commons.

Brown could be forced to resign or call another election if the House votes to indicate that it has no confidence in Labour.

Mr Brown would be in a position to ask the Queen to dissolve parliament in order to hold another general election. However, the Queen is not bound to accept the request, especially if he was to ask soon after a previous dissolution.

If Labour retains a majority in the new parliament after the general election it will continue in office and resume business as usual.

Meanwhile rival parties may attempt to call a motion of confidence ahead of the Queen's speech - if for example they have struck a coalition deal.

The Daily Mail warned readers attracted to the idea of a hung parliament that it would result in a "weak administration, dependent on back-room deals and shabby compromises".

However, the Independent claimed this election campaign was an opportunity to end Britain's "unfair and discredited voting system for ever" and that "progressively minded voters" should cast their ballots tactically to keep out the Tories.

(LB/GK)