UK party leaders resign

Three defeated party leaders have stepped down in just 60 minutes during the final leg of a general election in which the Conservatives have won a narrow majority.

Labour leader Ed Miliband resigned with immediate effect, leaving his deputy Harriet Harman in charge until a replacement is elected by the party. "I take absolute and total responsibility for the result of this election," he said, adding Labour would need “an honest and open debate about its future".

Jim Murphy had earlier insisted he would carry on leading the party in Scotland despite losing his East Renfrewshire seat, which he held since 1997. It was, he said “a dreadful night for the party” but they would bounce back.

“With less than a year to the Scottish Parliament elections we cannot afford another period of introspection,” he said.

Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg said the election result had been “immeasurably more crushing” than feared, with only eight MPs elected across the UK elected for the party. "I hope our losses can be taken with proud dignity," he said, defending the Liberal Democrat contribution to the coalition government.

"Liberalism across Europe is not faring well against the politics of fear" and identity, he said, pointing to the SNP’s victory in Scotland. "The beguiling appeal of nationalism swept all before it,” he said.

UKIP’s Nigel Farage told reporters he too, was standing down as leader after failing to win the Thanet South seat. He had promised to do so during the campaign.

"I feel an enormous weight has been lifted from my shoulders and I’ve never felt happier," he said.