What they said on election night

Prime Minister David Cameron arrives at at the Windrush Leisure Centre in Witney, Oxfordshire, to see the count of his constituency

“My aim remains simple - to govern on the basis of governing for everyone in our United Kingdom” - David Cameron, who is to have an audience with the Queen as he begins to form his government.

“This, of course, has been a very difficult night for Labour. Scotland has chosen to oppose this Conservative government but not place that trust in the Labour Party. It will be our responsibility to re-win that trust in the months and years ahead” - Labour shadow foreign secretary Douglas Alexander.

“The results look quite good for us so far. It’s a very good personal result for the Prime Minister and a very bad result for both the Labour Party and the Liberal Democrats - probably better described as ‘catastrophic’ for them” - Former Tory leadership contender Liam Fox.

“I’m not going to claim it’s a good night for the Liberal Democrats ... This is going to be a tough set of results for us” - Former Liberal Democrat president Tim Farron.

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“What seems to have happened is that all the three main parties have lost this election. Some have lost it more than others - the Lib Dems in particular - but we seem to be heading to an outcome in which no party has achieved a majority” - Labour’s former strategy chief Lord Mandelson.

“Obviously, it’s a very, very clear victory for the Conservatives and a very bad night for Labour” - Uxbridge candidate Boris Johnson.

“He (Nigel Farage) is welcome. Any man’s welcome in the pub. That’s the beauty of the pub - everyone’s welcome. It’s a public house, whether you’re a prince or a pauper, you can come in the pub. If he’s drowning his sorrows, I’ll say ‘Well, well mate, better luck in 2020’” - Thanet South candidate Pub Landlord Al Murray.

“My congratulations to the Daily Mail and the Sun, they’re geniuses, they understand politics completely. They think the Ukip vote splits the Tory vote - God help us” - Ukip leader Nigel Farage.

“If he (Boris Johnson) is elected, it will be a really bad day for Uxbridge and South Ruislip. They’re replacing a good, trusted, respected MP for somebody with no interest in the area, with no moral compass, with a personal ambition to be prime minister” - Michael Francis Cox, Liberal Democrat candidate for Uxbridge and South Ruislip.

“I’d treat the exit poll with HUGE caution. I’m hoping for a good night but I think 58 seats is unlikely!” - SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon.

“I hope these figures are wrong. I won’t eat my hat, but I will eat my kilt if they (the SNP) get 58 seats” - Former Labour spin doctor Alastair Campbell.