UK general election winners and losers

The bigger picture of this election is Labour's drubbing at the hands of the Conservatives, but how did the other figures in British politics hold out?

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The winners

The Conservatives

The Tories defied all expectations (Getty)

Before last night even the most optimistic Tory did not believe they would win more than 300 seats – well shy of a majority. But now they are within touching distance of the magic number of 323 - where they would have an absolute majority and be able to rule on their own.

David Cameron

For a man who loves history – this result will delight Cameron. (Getty)

Outside Scotland this election came down to a personal choice between Ed Miliband and David Cameron and when push came to shove the voters chose the existing Prime Minister. For a man who loves history – this result will delight Cameron. It means he will now no longer go down as a Tory leader only able to win one term in power – and that with the help of the Lib Dems.

The SNP

Leader of the SNP Nicola Sturgeon celebrates during the Glasgow declarations

After last night Scottish Nationalism is now destined to dominate not just the politics of Scotland for the next five years but that of Westminster as well. With almost every seat in Scotland in the bag they will be Parliamentary force to be reckoned with. And with the Tories in power as bogymen full independence for Scotland has now go one big step closer.

Nicola Sturgeon

Until the Scottish referendum campaign last year most voters in England had never heard of Nicola Sturgeon. They have now. Leading her party to such a sensational win is nothing short of historic – and could very easily result in another referendum and the SNP’s ultimate goal of independence sooner than we think.

Douglas Carswell

Douglas Carswell (PA)

So far Carsell is Ukip’s only MP who comfortably held onto his seat in in Clacton despite the Tory surge. But how long he remains with Ukip remains to be seen. Many expect that at some stage he will leave Ukip and become an independent MP.

Caroline Lucas

Caroline Lucas (PA)

A few months ago Lucas and the Greens were worried they could lose their only seat of Brighton Pavilion in a tight three way marginal. But it was not to be in the event she held on comfortably and could even  be joined by a second Green in the Commons.

Mhairi Black

The SNP's Mhairi Black (PA)

Mhairi Black is only a third-year politics student but she has prepared for her finals next month in the most extraordinary way – by defeating Douglas Alexander – the man responsible for Labour entire election campaign.  At 20, she is also the youngest MP since 1667.

Lynton Crosby

Tory election strategist Lynton Crosby (PA)

Despite having run a campaign that was derided as uninspiring and negative Crosby’s relentless targeting of key marginal seats worked. The Tories lost ground where they had no hope of winning an MP but increased their vote share where they needed to win.

The losers

Labour

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Make no mistake despite brave faces this was a disastrous night for Labour. It failed to win the seats in England it needed to have any chance of being the largest party in the House of Commons while piling up votes in seats where it already had a majority. As a result Labour are expected to have even less seats overall than it did after 13 years in power in the 2010 election.

Ed Miliband

Labour Party leader Ed Miliband announces his resignation as leader at a news conference in London (REUTERS/Neil Hall)

Miliband’s time as Labour leader is over and at some point today he will almost certainly announce his decision to step down. Not since Neil Kinnock in 1992 has a Labour leader under-performed so badly. Despite having a good campaign history will probably blame his experiment of moving the party to the left for its failure. As one person put it last night: “So maybe New Labour wasn’t completely wrong after all.

The Liberal Democrats

Former Liberal Democrat MP Ed Davey and Leader of the Liberal Democrats, Nick Clegg in Surbiton, Kingston on Thames (Niklas Halle'n/AFP/Getty Images)

When the exit poll came in last night Paddy Ashdown, the former Lib Dem leader, said he would eat his hat if the prediction were correct. Sadly for him and his party it was all too true. Having been in Government for the last five years they are now an electoral irrelevance in Westminster. It will take years to re-build that party which has not performed this badly in Westminster elections since the 1970s.

Nick Clegg

Nick Clegg delivers his resignation speech (Getty Images)

Clegg may have won is seat in Sheffield Hallam but he will take much of the blame for the Lib Dem loses – and might actually preferred to have lost his seat as well. He will certainly resign as leader later today triggering a leadership election – but with only ten candidates or so eligible to stand.

Simon Hughes

Simon Hughes (Charlie Forgham-Bailey)

Since winning his seat in a by-election 31 years ago, Hughes has defied political gravity to hold on to this traditionally Labour area of Southwark and Bermondsey even through the height of New Labour’s popularity. Hughes got almost 50 per cent of the vote in 2010 – but has now crashed to defeat bringing to an end a long and distinguished Parliamentary career.

Boris Johnson

While Johnson will be publically ‘delighted’ by the night’s result he will be privately seething that his chances of becoming Prime Minister have just receded substantially. Cameron looks certain to stay in number 10 for at least three more years – and after that it is likely to be a younger, fresher Tory who succeeds him.

Vince Cable

The highest profile Lib Dem loss? (Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)

One of the Lib Dems’ most popular politicians, the Business Secretary was perhaps the highest profile Lib Dem loss in a truly disastrous night for the party. He had held his seat of Twickenham  since 2007 and was one of a very small number of Lib Dems to win more than 50 per cent of the vote in the last two elections.

Esther McVey

Esther McVey, former Minister for Employment and Disabilities (Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)

The highest profile Tory casualty who bucked the national trend to lose to Labour in Wirral. But this will not be the last we hear of the employment minister – expect her to be found as safer seat at the next by election or a place in the House of Lords.

George Galloway

Respect Party Leader George Galloway made repeated personal attacks on his Labour opponent Naz Shah during this campaign

After being a past master at  upsetting the odds and taking seats for Respect – including Bradford West from Labour last time round this was not to be Galloway’s night. But it is too soon to write the fiery Scot off.