BBC UK GENERAL ELECTION 2015 DAILY BRIEFING 08/05/15

Cameron defies polls to clinch majority

Almost all the results are in now, and the Conservatives have passed 326 seats, the number required for a majority. And that was not the only shock in a night of staggering results: the SNP won 56 seats out of 59 in Scotland, and Labour failed to win key seats in England and Wales - including that of shadow chancellor Ed Balls. The Lib Dems were reduced to a mere eight MPs. UKIP managed only one MP but made big gains in vote share. While David Cameron keeps his job, Ed Miliband's, Nick Clegg's and Nigel Farage's are now up for grabs. Catch up on all the results >

The night that could reshape the UK Not since the fall of Thatcher or the Blair landslide has there been a political moment quite like this one. Personal triumphs for the Prime Minister David Cameron and for Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon will not just reshape British politics but could perhaps reshape the future of the United Kingdom itself. Bitter disappointment for Ed Miliband and a political disaster for Nick Clegg may lead to both men quitting, and is sure to lead to months of soul searching for their parties as they mourn the loss of some of their most famous faces - felled by a brutal electoral firing squad. Read more > Nick Robinson Political editor

Cameron lauds 'one nation' victory David Cameron met the Queen earlier to offer to form a government Despite the incredible disparity between the way Scotland voted and the picture in England and Wales, David Cameron says he hopes to govern for all of the UK. His party outperformed not only all the polls suggesting a hung parliament, but the exit poll, winning over 326 seats - enough to form a slender majority in the Commons. The SNP met sky-high expectations of the party, taking 56 out of 59 Scottish constituencies. But it's a grim picture for Labour: on top of the party's collapse in Scotland, it failed to gain key seats in England and Wales, including the loss of Ed Balls' seat. The Lib Dems lost 49 seats, including those belonging to Cabinet ministers Vince Cable, Ed Davey and Danny Alexander. Three party leaders have stood down. Read more about how each party fared >

SNP sweeps the board The SNP won a near-total victory in Scotland, taking 56 out of 59 seats. That left one MP standing from each of its major rivals: Labour's Iain Murray, the Lib Dems' Alistair Carmichael and the Conservatives' David Mundell. Nicola Sturgeon called it "a historic result" which exceeded her "wildest dreams". Read more > Miliband steps down Ed Miliband has resigned as leader of the Labour Party, saying: "I am truly sorry," before adding: "This party will come back again." His party is forecast to win 233 seats, compared with 258 in 2010. Nick Clegg has stood down as leader of the Lib Dems, and Nigel Farage as UKIP leader. Read more >

The biggest losers

Before the election, it was floated that several household names might lose their seats - but it was not anticipated just how many would be defeated. Here's a rundown >

Watch: How the drama unfolded Get up-to-speed with all the the twists and turns of the story so far in this constantly updating highlights video. Watch more >