Cameron set for second term as PM
Prime Minister David Cameron and wife Samantha arrive at 10 Downing Street after the election put his party on the brink of securing an absolute majority in the House of Commons. Picture: Anthony Devlin/PA Wire - Credit: PA
National General Election update – Cmaeron in, Miliband could be out
David Cameron has returned to 10 Downing Street to prepare for another term as Prime Minister, as the General Election put his Conservative Party on the brink of securing an absolute majority in the House of Commons.
A dramatic night saw the Scottish National Party sweep Labour out of almost all its strongholds north of the border, while the Liberal Democrats suffered savage losses and question marks were raised about the future of Ed Miliband, Nick Clegg and Nigel Farage.
And Tories claimed the biggest scalp of the night as shadow chancellor Ed Balls went down to defeat by a margin of 422.
Mr Cameron all but declared victory in a speech after being returned as MP for Witney, in which he set out his intention to press ahead with an in/out referendum on Britain’s membership of the European Union and to build on the economic foundations laid by the Coalition since 2010.
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“My aim remains simple - to govern on the basis of governing for everyone in our United Kingdom,” he said.
He made clear that he was determined not to allow the rising tide of nationalism to lead to the break-up of the United Kingdom, saying: “I want to bring our country together, our United Kingdom together, not least by implementing as fast as we can the devolution that we rightly promised and came together with other parties to agree both for Wales and for Scotland.
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“In short, I want my party, and I hope a Government I would like to lead, to reclaim a mantle that we should never have lost - the mantle of One Nation, One United Kingdom. That is how I will govern if I am fortunate enough to form a government in the coming days.”
LATEST: Labour leader Ed Miliband is expected to resign following sweeping losses in Scotland and with David Cameron close to an overall majority, according to reports.
Mr Miliband arrived in London and was applauded into party HQ by staff and campaigners with wife Justine, but said nothing to waiting reporters.
Meanwhile, David Cameron is set to visit the Queen at Buckingham Palace to confirm his second term as Prime Minister.
The current seat count is 320 for the Tories, with 326 needed for the majority. Only 15 seats are left to declare.
