Cameron is Back to Govern London as Miliband Concedes

Cameron said he hoped to form a government in the coming days after his party enjoyed what he described as a "very strong night". He may, however, have to grapple with renewed calls for Scottish independence after nationalists surged.

Ed Miliband, leader of the main opposition Labour Party, won re-election to parliament but conceded his party had a night to forget as it performed significantly worse than it had expected. He said he was "deeply sorry" for a "very disappointing and difficult night".

With nearly three quarters of seats counted, the Conservatives had won 330 of 650 seats with an exit poll showing that they had won 316 seats in the lower house of parliament, just shy of a majority but with ample options to form a government.

 

Historic European Union referendum

In practice, controlling 323 seats in parliament is enough to command a majority as four lawmakers from Northern Ireland's Sinn Fein refuse to take their places.

In Scotland, once a Labour stronghold, nationalists appeared to have won almost every seat, a result likely to stoke momentum for Scottish independence by underscoring the political chasm that divides voters north of the border and the rest of the United Kingdom.

A Conservative victory means Britain is likely to face a historic in-out European Union referendum within two years, something Cameron has promised to deliver if re-elected.

For Labour, the election represents a crushing defeat.

The exit poll forecast had showed that it would get just 239 seats. If accurate, that would be the centre-left party's worst result in almost three decades. The scale of its defeat in Scotland at the hands of nationalists is likely to raise serious questions about its future direction and policies.

Want to send us a story? Submit on Wananchi Reporting on the Citizen Digital App or Send an email to wananchi@royalmedia.co.ke or Send an SMS to 25170 or WhatsApp on 0743570000

Leave a Comment

Comments

No comments yet.

latest stories