In an election, the results of which defied all expectations and predictions, the Conservative Party, led by David Cameron, was swept back to power on Friday — this time with a convincing majority — to govern the United Kingdom for another five years. The Conservatives have returned with a majority in these elections, but there have been two other startling developments. First is the astonishing success of Scotland’s pro-independence party, which raises the issue of whether the U.K. can stay united. And second is the collapse of both the Labour and the Liberal Democrat parties.
Conservatives win big
> The return of the Tories
In a surprise election outcome, the Conservative Party led by David Cameron has been elected to govern the United Kingdom for the next five years, and this time on its own majority - EDITORIAL
> The view from India
Cameron’s relationship with Modi got off to a good start. When he was still CM of Gujarat, the British High Commissioner was the first Western diplomat to call on him, writes MARK TULLY
> Sweet surprise for Tories
“This is the sweetest victory of all”, David Cameron told party workers on May 8 morning. The Conservatives ended up with a 6 per cent lead in the national vote over Labour, reports ANDREW WHITEHEAD
> Can Labour climb back from this debacle?
Labour never really offered a coherent challenge to the Tories. A movement that truly addresses the issues of working people is needed more than ever, writes OWEN JONES
Read our correspondent >Parvathi Menon's article on the election results here .
Unravelling the UK elections
> Narayan Murthy ‘very happy’ with son-in-law’s victory
Rishi Sunak contested the election as Conservative Party candidate for Richmond in Yorkshire and got around 51% of votes.
> SNP wave decimates Labour
The SNP took 56 out of the 59 U.K. parliamentary seats in Scotland. Some of Britain’s most experienced Labour politicians lost their seats.
> Miliband steps down after ‘humiliation’
Written off as a political insider lacking charisma just a few months ago, the 45-year-old had won plaudits for his tough campaign style.
> Lib Dems pay the price for joining government
On the brink of tears, Mr. Clegg said it was “the most crushing blow to the Liberal Democrats since our party was founded”.
| Seats | Vote Share | |
| 331 | 36.9% | |
| 232 | 30.4% | |
| 56 | 4.7% | |
| 8 | 7.9% | |
| 1 | 12.6% | |
| 8 | 0.6% |
UK elections, through a South Asian lens
Indian-born voters (6,15,000) make up the biggest share of the foreign-born electorate. The Hindu gives you a snapshot of the Indian and South Asian diaspora's role in the 2015 UK General elections: Who are the prominent Indian candidates? Which constituencies represent the greatest migrant electoral power? What are the key issues surrounding immigrants and diaspora that featured in debates? The Hindu gives you a snapshot of the Indian and South Asian diaspora's role in Britain's general elections:
Indians to look out for
| | | | |
| Virender Sharma , | Priti Patel , Conservative candidate from Witham | Seema Malhotra , Labour candidate for Feltham and Heston | Rishi Sunak , Conservative candidate, Richmond (Yorks) | Keith Vaz , |
Fact files
Poll predictions
- Conservative ( 35% )
- Labour ( 34% )
- Liberal Democrats ( 9% )
- UKIP ( 12% )
- Green party ( 5% )
- Others ( 6% )
- >Read more
- Did you know that voters could be voting in this UK election? They make up the biggest share of all foreign born voters.
- >Read more
- The UK's voter's are: the economy, health (especially future of NHS), immigration & asylum, and welfare benefits.
- >Read more
The Conservatives won with a majority of 331 seats followed by Labour with 232 seats.
Share of migrant voters in London
London has by far the largest migrant vote; some constituencies here have electorates with over 50% foreign-born . (Hover-over constituency for more details)
Party stand on immigration
Conservative
- Migrants to wait four years before they can claim benefits
- Remove those that have failed to find work within six months
- Bring net migration down to below 1,00,000 people a year
- Renegotiate EU rules on free movement of workers
Labour
- Stronger border controls with more entry-exit checks
- Controls to stop low-skilled immigrants – top talent only
- Migrants to wait two years before claiming benefits
- Fines for employing illegal immigrants to be increased
UKIP
- Migrants should only qualify for benefits if they have paid tax and National Insurance for five years
- Migrants only entitled to permanent residence after 10 years
- Cut net migration down to 50,000 people a year
Liberal Democrats
- Universal credit for migrants only after working for six months
- Benefits only to migrants working for equivalent of 35-hour week on minimum wage
SNP
- Scotland's devolved government to have control over immigration
- Look at ways to attract high-skilled immigrants
Green
- Reduce immigration controls
- Illegal migrants can stay in UK after five years
- More legal rights for asylum seekers
