Next Labour – 8 in the morning, May 12th

By Alex Smith / @alexsmith1982

* “In the end it was parts of the Labour Party that turned away from the Liberal Democrats and the possibility of a further term. Some Cabinet ministers were unhappy about a deal. A chorus of Labour MPs declared that they were opposed. They head for the deceptive comforts of opposition rather than face the hurdles of a new, precarious coalition.” Steve Richards on the last days of Labour government – and where next for all three parties.

* Thanks for all you do: Watch Gordon Brown’s departing message to Labour HQ last night.

* Ready to go: By yesterday afternoon, Labour were ready to leave government and were just “waiting for Nick Clegg to stop dicking around”, according to one minister…

* The age of New Labour is over. Now begins a Conservative-Liberal era full of unknown risks — and the chance for Labour to renew itself once more, writes Jonathan Freedland.

* Our assumptions about how government work will have to change with the coalition, says Peter Riddell in the Times.

* Alan Johnson has today ruled himself out of the contest for Labour leadership – and instead backed David Miliband.

* Sunder Katwala at Next Left says both David and Ed Miliband should stand for the Labour leadership.

* David and Ed: The brothers who “inhaled politics” from childhood.