Labour has won a historic landslide victory in the general election, giving the Tory's a severe drubbing that left their leader William Hague with no choice but to resign.

Labour's landslide comes, however, against the backdrop of the lowest voter turnout since 1918. The figure could end up lower than 60%, down from 71% in 1997.

Labour has a net loss was six seats. The Tories have recorded a net gain of one seat. The Lib Dems have a net gain of six seats.

For the first time in 100 years Labour has won a second successive term in office.

The final result sees Labour with 413 MPs, the Conservatives 166, the Liberal Democrats 52, and 10 for other parties.

At the 1997 general election Labour had 418 MPs, the Tories 165 and the Liberal Democrats had 46.

This morning Mr Hague appeared outside Conservative Central office in London to announce his decision to step down as party leader as soon as a successor is appointed. “No man is indispenable. No man is more important than the party,”