‘Gone by lunchtime’: Labour turns on Miliband after election meltdown

Ed Miliband is facing calls for him to step down as Labour leader as they face their worst General Election result since 1987. A Labour source last night insisted Miliband “won’t make tomorrow lunchtime” as his party were wiped out in Scotland and were on course to finish well behind the Conservatives. And former cabinet minister Jack Straw said: “It is for Mr Miliband to make up his mind about his future." Forecasts of major defeats north of the border have been borne out with both Scottish Labour Party leader Jim Murphy and shadow foreign secretary Douglas Alexander losing to the SNP. Miliband said: "This has clearly been a very disappointing and difficult night for the Labour Party”

I want to say to all our dedicated and decent colleagues in Scotland who have lost their seats that I am deeply sorry about what has happened.

Ed Miliband

Miliband, who held his Doncaster sea, added: “The next government has a huge responsibility, it has a huge responsibility in facing the difficult task of keeping our country together.” His hopes of forming a government disappeared almost as soon as voting stopped at 10pm when an exit poll predicted a Tory majority and the Labour share of seats falling to 239. Labour’s John Mann tweeted: “Can’t say that Labour leadership weren’t warned repeatedly - those who even bothered to meet that is. Never hurts to listen” while former Labour minister Peter Hain, who stood down at the election, said: “This is devastating for us in Scotland, where an avalanche happened and swept us aside.”

We must not revert to the far left. We must not allow ourselves to turn inwards. We must try to heal the hurt that people will be feeling and, above all, we should be gathering wherever we can, support in the House of Commons.

Ex-Labour minister David Blunkett