Cameron closes in on majority as three UK party leaders quit in 45 minutes

David Cameron has been re-elected Prime Minister of the UK after a surprisingly one-sided election result. His Conservatives are closing in on an overall majority despite pre-vote polls showing they would be tied neck and neck with Labour. As he neared the 326 seats needed, three other party leaders quit within an hour of each other. Ed Miliband, the Labour leader, announced his resignation after his party’s worst showing since 1987 as they were wiped out in Scotland by the SNP who took 56 of the 59 seats. Miliband said: “I am tendering my resignation taking effect after this afternoon’s commemoration of VE-Day.”

Defeats are hard, but we’re a party that will never stop fighting for the working people of this country.

Labour leader Ed Miliband

Nick Clegg, leader of the Lib Dems who were in coalition with Cameron for the past five years, also resigned after his party’s worst showing ever - they won just eight seats and lost ever member of the coalition cabinet except Clegg. He stepped down after saying that the election results had been “immeasurably more crushing and unkind” than expected. Another high-profile casualty was Nigel Farage, who quit as leader of UKIP after failing to get elected as an MP in Kent. Talking about his promise to quit if he lost, Farage, said: “I’m a man of my word.”

On a personal level I feel an enormous weight has been lifted from my shoulders. I’ve never felt happier.

Nigel Farage

Politics UK General Election