Britain woke up to the news of a political earthquake in Scotland and the Tories retaining power at No 10. The swing and the early results are reflecting the predictions off the Exit Poll which puts Conservative bagging 316 seats, followed by labour at 239 and Lib Dems 10.
David Cameron said: “This is clearly a very strong night for the Conservative Party. We’ve had a positive response to a positive campaign.”
He added his aim was to “govern on the basis of governing for everyone” in Britain and to “bring our United Kingdom together” by implementing devolution reforms in Scotland and Wales.
Cameron e said he would pursue a One Nation agenda “if I am fortunate enough to form a government in the coming days”.
The 2015 election saw the Scottish National Party sweep Labour out of almost all its strongholds north of the border, while Liberal Democrats suffered savage losses and question marks were raised about the future of Ed Miliband, Nick Clegg and Nigel Farage.
“Today is the 70th anniversary of the victory in Europe in 1945 and I think we should start by remembering those who gave such sacrifice and service to save our country but also to save our democracy, which we have seen in action today,” the prime minister said.
“Some people say, in fact I’ve often said, there’s only one opinion poll that counts and that’s the one on Election Day and I’m not sure that’s ever been truer than it is today and tonight.
“This is clearly a very strong night for the Conservative party. I think it has a positive response to a positive campaign about safeguarding our economy, about creating jobs, about our record in government over the last five years but above all our plan for the next five years, based on clear values of wanting to reward work in our country, that those who put in and do their best should find the system is on their side. As I put it on the steps of Downing Street five years ago, those who can should, those who can’t we will always help.”
“It is too early to say exactly what sort of result there will be at the end of this night, at the end of this election campaign, but to me this election campaign was always about the difficult decisions we had to take over the last five years, the foundations of a stronger economy we have built for our country, and the chance now to build on that foundation and say to people that if you want that job, if you want that apprenticeship, if you want a home that you can own of your own, if you want security and dignity in retirement, we are on your side and want to deliver for you.
“Also we should never in politics duck the big issues, whether it’s dealing with our deficit, whether it is holding that referendum which we were right to hold on the future of Scotland in our United Kingdom, or indeed in the future that referendum that we must hold to decide Britain’s future in Europe. My aim remains simple, to govern on the basis of governing for everyone in our United Kingdom.”