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Friday 08 May 2015 1:49 am

General Election 2015: The three things you need to know waking up right now – here’s where Britain stands

By: Lynsey Barber

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If you've just woken up and need to catch up on what happened overnight, this is everything you need to know right now – and while you were dreaming, some leaders were experiencing a waking nightmare.

1. A Tory majority

It's looking more and more likely that the Conservatives will win a majority.

Surprise exit polls gave the Tories surprisingly larger gains than had been expected previously. 

Now, forecasters are giving the Tories a thin majority of 325 seats, based on the results so far – we're more than halfway through 650 constituency declarations – handing them an unexpected victory.

The election has not been called yet, but Labour leader Ed Miliband's speech after holding on to his Doncaster seat was a dirge of disappointment and apologies, indicating the leader is now resigned to an outcome that Labour will not be part of.

The later editions of the newspaper front pages have also made their calls – Cameron will sweep to victory.

After the most uncertain election in decades, the result now appears surprisingly straight forward.

2. Lib Dem massacre

The Lib Dem's are in a bloodbath. Nearly every single senior Lib Dem minister in the coalition has lost their seat – except Clegg, who kept his Sheffield Hallam seat, but with a by far reduced margin.

Here's who's out… so far.

Exit polls suggested the party's number of seats could fall from a 2010 high of 57 to just 10. The severity of the Lib Dem's losses through the night could result in this number dropping into single digits.

They will have to fork out a lot of money on lost deposits, that's for certain.

3. What we're waiting for

South Thanet, where Ukip leader Nigel Farage wants to win, is looking like it will report much later than the 6am expected. The area hasn't even started counting yet, according to reports.

Shadow chancellor Ed Balls's Morley and Outwood seat is at risk. Many reports have been circulating throughout the night that he could be out as it is too close to call. Ballots are being recounted with the result expected at 11am.

Ed Miliband to officially concede.

There are around 100 of the 650 constituencies left to declare.

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