Clegg Resigns In Front Of Weeping Activists

Nick Clegg has quit as leader of the Lib Dems as activists wept openly after a "catastrophic" election night.

Mr Clegg said results had been "immeasurably more crushing and unkind" than expected.

Activists sobbed as their resigning leader described results as "the most crushing blow to the Liberal Democrats since the party was founded".

Mr Clegg said: "I always expected this election to be exceptionally difficult for the Liberal Democrats, given the heavy responsibilities we've had to bear in government in the most challenging of circumstances.

"But clearly results have been immeasurably more crushing and unkind than I could ever have feared.

"For that, of course, I must take responsibility and therefore I announce I will be resigning as leader of the Liberal Democrats."

LIVE BLOG: General Election Results And Reaction

Sky's Joey Jones described the atmosphere at the announcement as "the heart of post-poll darkness".

"There was virtually nobody who did not have tears in their eyes - or indeed running down their cheeks," Jones said.

Mr Clegg went on: "It has simply been heartbreaking to see so many friends and colleagues who have served their constituents so diligently, over so many years, abruptly lose their seats because of forces entirely beyond their control.

"However unforgiving the judgement has been of the Liberal Democrats, I believe the history books will judge our party kindly for the service we sought to provide for the nation at a time of great economic difficulty.

"And for the policies and values which we brought to bear in government; opportunity, fairness and liberty.

"Fear and grievance have won, Liberalism has lost.

"On the morning of the most crushing blow to the Liberal Democrats since our party was founded, it is easy to imagine there is no road back.

"This is a very dark hour for our party, but we cannot and will not allow decent liberal values to be extinguished overnight.

"Our party will come back, our party will win again.

"It will take patience resilience, and grit. But that is what has built our party before. And we'll rebuild it again."

:: Analysis: Why Nick Clegg just had no choice but to go.

The announcement came after several party heavyweights were ousted from their seats.

The Chief Secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander and Business Secretary Vince Cable were among the casualties.

They joined former party leader Charles Kennedy and former deputy leader Simon Hughes in losing their seats.

The Deputy Prime Minister retained his own seat but saw his colleagues toppled in a series of reverses that could see the Lib Dems reduced to single figures in the Commons.

A party source described the Lib Dems' performance in the General Election as "utterly horrific".

Mr Cable had held the seat of Twickenham, Teddington and the Hamptons since 1997 and was made Business Secretary after the Lib Dems became coalition partners in 2010.

He was defeated by Conservative candidate Dr Tania Mathias, who claimed 25,580 votes to Mr Cable's 23,563.

Mr Cable said the Liberal Democrats' results across the country represent a "terrible night all over for our party".

"The fact is we were hit by a very effective campaign based on people's fears of a Labour government and the SNP," he said.

"Unfortunately, it has been a terrible night all over for our party, but I'm absolutely certain we'll bounce back locally and nationally."

Mr Alexander was defeated by SNP candidate Drew Hendry in Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey.

He said he did not "regret" going into coalition with the Conservatives but conceded the party had paid a price.

Mr Hendry secured 28,838 votes, around 10,000 more than his Liberal Democrat rival.

Mr Kennedy also lost his seat of Ross, Skye and Lochaber to the SNP, while Mr Hughes lost the constituency of Bermondsey and Old Southwark, which he had held for 32 years.

Other high-profile defeats saw Energy Secretary Ed Davey ousted in the seat of Kingston and Surbiton, and former Minister of State for the Home Office Lynne Featherstone lost in Hornsey and Wood Green.

Liberal Democrat Employment Minister Jo Swinson lost her seat of Dunbartonshire East to the SNP candidate John Nicolson, while Norman Baker lost in Lewes.