Labour wins third term
Labour has won an historic third term, but lost votes and seats to the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats.
The night began with a flurry of results going towards Labour and by 0300 BST it was clear that the country had voted for a third consecutive Labour government – albeit with a much reduced majority.
With almost all of the results now declared, the Labour majority is likely to be in the high sixties. Currently, Labour has 355 seats, the Conservatives 197 and the Liberal Democrats 62.
After returning from Buckingham Palace where he had an audience with the Queen, Mr Blair said: “It is a tremendous honour and privilege to be elected for a third term. I am acutely conscious of that honour and that privilege.”
Earlier, after travelling from his Sedgefield constituency down to London he told supporters that “the British people wanted to return a Labour government but with a reduced majority”.
And despite Conservative leader Michael Howard presiding over an improved performance from his party, this afternoon he announced plans to stand down.
The 63-year-old said he that he would be “simply too old” to fight to form a new government at the time of the next election in 2009-10.
He conceded defeat at 0421 BST, but said the result marked “a significant step towards our recovery”.
The Conservatives managed to hang onto most of their big guns, despite the Liberal Democrat ‘decapitation’ strategy, with only Shadow Education secretary Tim Collins losing his seat in Westmoreland to the Lib Dems.
Liberal Democrat leader Charles Kennedy hailed his party’s performance as confirmation of “the era of three-party politics”.
And speaking outside Liberal Democrat headquarters this morning, he said his party was “well poised” to provide the “real alternative” to the Labour government.
While most commentators expected a Labour victory, the night was not without its surprises, with ex-Labour MP George Galloway beating Labour loyalist Oona King in Bethnal Green and Bow.
In Wales an internal Labour Party row over the use of all-woman shortlists saw the official Labour candidate defeated by ex-Labour AM Peter Law in Blaenau Gwent.
With Wyre Forest independent Richard Taylor retaining his seat on the ticket of fighting for Kidderminster Hospital there are now three independents in the Commons – the largest number in recent memory.
In Scotland, the SNP had a good night, returning six MPs. In Wales Plaid Cymru had a disappointing night, losing one seat.
