Conservatives in the UK are celebrating today after Prime Minister David Cameron overwhelmingly secured victory, and a majority, over the Labour Party. More from AP:
The Conservative Party swept to power Friday in Britain's Parliamentary elections, winning an unexpected and resounding victory that returns Prime Minister David Cameron to 10 Downing Street in a stronger position than before.
Cameron went Friday afternoon to Buckingham Palace, where he is expected to tell Queen Elizabeth II that he has enough support to form a government.
That brings the election to a much-quicker-than-expected conclusion. Polls ahead of Election Day showed Conservatives locked in a tight race with the opposition Labour Party, raising the possibility of days or weeks of negotiations to form a government.With Cameron's Conservatives winning a working majority in the 650-seat House of Commons, the election result looked to be far better for him than even his own party had foreseen. With 639 constituencies counted, the Conservatives had 324 seats to Labour's 229.
The prime minister beamed early Friday as he was announced the winner of his Witney constituency in southern England.
"This is clearly a very strong night for the Conservative Party," he said, stopping just short of declaring overall victory. He would be the first Conservative prime minister to win a second term since Margaret Thatcher.
Here's to a brighter future for everyone. pic.twitter.com/EeN0YFAvBm
— David Cameron (@David_Cameron) May 8, 2015
52 minutes, three resignations:
11.22am - Nigel Farage quits
11.34am - Nick Clegg quits
12.14pm - Ed Miliband quits
#GE2015
— Sky News (@SkyNews) May 8, 2015The morning afterward, it's hard to convey the scale of shocked devastation to Labour, Lib Dems & UKIP in UK elex to US readers.Let me try.
— Jeff B@AoSHQDD (@EsotericCD) May 8, 2015In England proper, four major parties in the UK elex: Tory, Labour, Lib Dems, and UKIP. The leaders of last three all *JUST RESIGNED.*
— Jeff B@AoSHQDD (@EsotericCD) May 8, 2015In Scotland, before last night the Labour Party held 41 seats, Tories had 1.
After last night, Labour has 1 seat, and Tories still have 1.
— Jeff B@AoSHQDD (@EsotericCD) May 8, 2015So, what's next? Leaving the European Union, as many conservatives have wanted to do for years, will certainly be on the debate agenda.
In any event, it looks as though, at long last, we shall have the chance to vote on leaving the EU and rejoining the rest of the world.
— Daniel Hannan (@DanHannanMEP) May 7, 2015Congratulations and thanks to all Conservative local and parliamentary candidates. A wonderful night. Now for the In/Out referendum! ??
— Daniel Hannan (@DanHannanMEP) May 8, 2015This post has been updated with additional information.
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