Bernie Sanders, the firebrand socialist senator who ignited the race for the 2016 Democratic presidential nomination, effectively admitted defeat by saying he will vote for his rival Hillary Clinton.

Mr Sanders also disclosed that he was negotiating for a possible position in a future Clinton administration.

He stopped short of officially endorsing his opponent and did not suspend his campaign, but did speak about it in the past tense.

The 74-year-old senator said: "It (my vote) will in all likelihood go to Hillary Clinton.

"We are working as we speak with the Clinton campaign to see what kind of agreements we can work out."

Asked if that included discussion of a future job he said: "That's what we're doing too, so don't tell anybody."

Mrs Clinton declared herself the presumptive Democratic nominee more than two weeks ago but Mr Sanders has refused to drop out of the race.