Nick Clegg is due to address Liberal Democrat MPs in an attempt to gain their backing for his negotiating strategy with David Cameron.

The discussions could force Gordon Brown out of No 10.

Senior figures from the two parties met on Friday night to begin talks on Tory leader David Cameron's "big, open and comprehensive" offer to work together after the General Election produced the first hung parliament in a generation.

Mr Cameron promised a committee of inquiry on reform of the electoral system - long a key Lib Dem demand - while shadow foreign secretary William Hague, a member of the Tory negotiating team, said cabinet places could also be on offer.