Tories oust Labour as Clegg admits 'disappointment'

The Tories, however, failed to oust Ed Balls from his seat in Morley and Outwood, as the Schools Secretary held on - but with a massively reduced majority of just over 1,000. He won the constituency with 18,365 votes, with the Conservative challenger Antony Calvert coming in a close second with 17,264. He was defending a majority of more than 8,000.

In his acceptance speech he said: "You can come along with all your posters and all your leaflets and all your advertisements but you cannot buy this constituency."

A deflated Nick Clegg, who despite sweeping to victory in his Sheffield Hallam constituency, expressed his disappointment at the Lib Dems' poor showing, and told supporters: "We simply didn't achieve what we hoped."

Mr Clegg cautioned the other parties against "rushing into making claims or taking decisions" which did not stand the test of time.

He urged everyone involved to "take a little time" to ensure people got the government they deserved during these "difficult times".

Mr Clegg told supporters at his delayed count that his party had had a disappointing night - and appealed for all parties to pause to digest the result before rushing into deals that would not stand the test of time.

He said: "This has obviously been a disappointing night for the Liberal Democrats. We simply haven't achieved what we had hoped. Clearly the final election result is still a little unpredictable. No-one appears to have won emphatically.

"I don't think anyone should rush into making claims or taking decisions which don't stand the test of time. I think it would be best if everybody were just to take a little time so people get the good government they deserve."

Communities Minister Shahid Malik lost his seat in Dewsbury to his Tory rival. Mr Malik was beaten by Simon Reevell who overturned a Labour majority of more than 4,500. A 5.84 per cent swing saw Mr Reevell poll 18,889 (34.98 per cent) beating Mr Malik by more than 1,500 votes.