pledges a ‘greater Britain’ following his Conservative party victory in UK Elections
Prime Minister David Cameron
David Cameron has promised to lead a government for “one nation” and make “Great Britain greater” as he returned to Downing Street as prime minister.
Speaking outside No 10 after visiting Buckingham Palace, he said the UK was “on the brink of something special”.
The Conservatives have 331 seats – five more than needed for a Commons majority – their first such victory since 1992.
Mr Cameron’s rivals Ed Miliband, Nick Clegg and Nigel Farage have all resigned after election disappointment.
The Conservative leader is now beginning the process of putting together the new government. George Osborne has been reappointed as chancellor, Theresa May as home secretary, Philip Hammond as foreign secretary and Michael Fallon as defence secretary.
Mr Cameron said he would reach out to all parts of the UK and strive to “bring the country together” in the wake of the SNP’s election landslide in Scotland – where it won 56 of the 59 seats.
The three party leaders appeared together for the last time at the VE Day commemorations
In other election developments:
- With all 650 seats declared, the Conservatives have ended up with 331 seats in the House of Commons, 24 more than in 2010. Labour have 232, the Lib Dems 8, the SNP 56, Plaid Cymru 3, UKIP 1, the Greens 1 and others 19.
- The Conservatives get a 36.9% share of the UK national vote, Labour 30.4%, UKIP 12.6%, the Lib Dems 7.9%, the SNP 4.7%, the Green Party 3.8% and Plaid Cymru 0.6%.
- Ed Miliband steps down after a “difficult and disappointing” night for Labour which saw Ed Balls lose and Jim Murphy and Douglas Alexander defeated by the SNP
- Nick Clegg said he would quit as leader after a “crushing” set of losses, which saw Vince Cable, Danny Alexander, David Laws, Simon Hughes and Charles Kennedy among a slew of Lib Dem casualties
- Nigel Farage has quit as UKIP leader after failing to be elected – although he may stand in the ensuing leadership contest. He has recommended Suzanne Evans take over as interim leader
- George Galloway, who was reported to the police for retweeting an exit poll before voting ended, has lost to Labour in Bradford West
- Conservative minister Esther McVey was the highest-profile Tory loser, defeated by Labour in Wirral West as Boris Johnson returned to the Commons
- The Green Party gets one seat after Caroline Lucas retains the Brighton Pavilion constituency she won in 2010
- Turnout is set to be 66%, marginally up on 2010 and the highest since 1997
- An inquiry is to be held into the mismatch between opinion polls during the campaign and the actual result
The Conservatives’ victory means they will be able to govern without the need for a coalition or a formal agreement with other parties.
Mr Cameron said he had spoken to both Mr Miliband and Mr Clegg, paying tribute to the latter’s contribution to the coalition government over the past five years.
David Cameron: ”Together we can make Great Britain greater still”
Listen at: http://www.bbc.com/news/election-2015-32659720
Pics Cameron etc.
End
The following only if space permits
- David Cameron is back in No 10, expects 329 seats
• Tories cross line to 323 seats, wins shock majority
• Ed Miliband resigns after worst Labour result since 1987
• Nick Clegg steps down after huge Lib Dem losses
• Nigel Farage resigns after losing to Tories in Thanet
• Ed Balls loses his seat in final blow for Labour
• Pound in biggest jump in six years on euro
• Cable, Laws, Alexander, Hughes out as Lib Dems capitulate
• SNP take 56/59, Jim Murphy and Douglas Alexander out
• Boris Johnson proposes ‘federal offer’ to Scotland
