Lord Triesman quits as FA and England 2018 bid chairman

Lord Triesman is to stand down as chairman of the Football Association as well as the England 2018 World Cup bid.

Triesman confirmed he would be quitting in the wake of a damaging report in the Mail On Sunday. The newspaper article said he suggested Spain could drop its 2018 bid if rival bidder Russia helped bribe referees at this summer's World Cup. The England 2018 team has apologised to the Russian and Spanish FAs as it tries to rescue the World Cup bid with a Fifa decision due in December.

"I have decided to resign as chairman of the FA and the 2018 Bid board," Triesman said in a statement.

"A private conversation with someone whom I thought to be a friend was taped without my knowledge and passed to a national newspaper," he added, referring to former aide Melissa Jacobs, who met Triesman a fortnight ago.

"That same friend has also chosen to greatly exaggerate the extent of our friendship.

"In that conversation I commentated on speculation circulating about conspiracies around the world. Those comments were never intended to be taken seriously, as indeed is the case with many private conversations.

"Entrapment, especially by a friend, is an unpleasant experience both for my family and me but it leaves me with no alternative but to resign."

Triesman's resignation statement followed an FA board meeting that lasted over two hours. David Sheepshanks and Roger Burden have been named acting joint chairmen of the FA following Triesman's resignation.

Cameron and Clegg form Coalition goverment

The coalition goverment is the first time the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats have had a power-sharing deal at Westminster and the first coalition in the UK since the Second World War.

David Cameron's arrival in Downing Street marks the end of 13 years of Labour rule. The Conservatives won the most seats in last week's general election, but not enough to secure an overall Commons majority, resulting in a hung Parliament. After days of talks with the Lib Dems - the UK's third biggest party - a deal was reached on Tuesday that resulted in Labour Prime Minister Gordon Brown resigning.

In a joint press conference in the Downing Street garden, Mr Cameron said the coalition government could mark a "historic and seismic shift" in British politics. Both laughed off differences between the parties and animosity in the past - Mr Cameron apologising after a past description of Mr Clegg as a joke was brought up by a reporter.

After it became clear Labour could not reach an agreement with the Lib Dems that would have allowed them to remain in power, Gordon Brown tendered his resignation, saying it had been a privilege to serve "this country I love".

Gordon Brown resigns as UK prime minister

Gordon Brown has resigned as UK prime minister after three years. Mr Brown officially tendered his resignation to the Queen at Buckingham Palace, with Conservative leader David Cameron set to succeed him.

Speaking alongside his wife Sarah outside No 10 Downing Street, he said the job had been "a privilege" and wished his successor well. His decision comes as the Tories and Liberal Democrats are poised to agree a deal to form a government.

His resignation follows Thursday's general election in which no party won an overall majority but the Conservatives won the most seats and votes. Both Labour and the Tories have since been trying to persuade the Lib Dems to join them in a coalition government to run the country. Mr Brown had previously said he would resign as Labour leader, but stay on as prime minister until September, if Labour could agree a deal with the Lib Dems.

Deputy Labour leader Harriet Harman is to become Labour leader until a replacement is elected. Mr Brown succeeded Tony Blair as prime minister in June 2007 after spending ten years as chancellor of the exchequer.