David Cameron will return for a second term as the UK Prime Minister with an expanded mandate for his Conservative Party. The scale of Cameron’s win has come as a shock, particularly for Labour leader Ed Miliband who had hoped to oust the Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition. Miliband conceded it had been a “very disappointing and difficult night for the Labour Party”. Labour has relinquished dozens of seats and failed to grab key marginals. It has been all but wiped out by the Scottish National Party in seats north of the English border.
The Liberal Democrats suffered even heavier losses and party leader Nick Clegg appeared to indicate he will step down. The Conservatives, on the other hand, have picked up a few seats. A Government in the UK needs 326 votes in the House of Commons to command a majority. In its latest projection.