Election night in a minute: Jacqui Smith and Charles Clarke were sad. Ed Balls was sorry. Nick Clegg was disappointed. Caroline Lucas was ecstatic. Watch the night’s events in just 60 seconds.
In his acceptance speech, Conservative leader David Cameron announced: “The Labour government has lost its mandate.”
Gordon Brown came back, in his acceptance speech: “The outcome is not yet known.”
Two former Labour home secretaries, Jacqui Smith and Charles Clarke, announced that they were “sad” to lose their seats.
Ed Balls, who managed to hold on to his, said he was “sorry” the cameras didn’t get the moment they were looking for.
Hazel Blears, who was also returned against the odds, said: “It hasn’t been easy, but it’s been so worthwhile.” Peter Robinson rounded off an “annus horribilis” by losing his Northern Ireland seat.
Millionaire Tory Zac Goldsmith was one of the party’s A-listers to be voted in.
Against the electoral odds, Green party leader Caroline Lucas won Brighton Pavilion. Nick Clegg criticised those electoral odds, calling the British political system “broken”.
And at 2.45 in the afternoon David Cameron made a “comprehensive offer” to the Liberal Democrats.