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| David Blaine looked thin
and was clearly emotional as he left the
box |
| 1951: Churchill wins general
election |
England have
The Conservative Party has won the general election by a small
majority, making Winston Churchill prime minister for the second time.
Polling across 620 of the country's 621 constituencies began at 0700
hours yesterday and continued until 2100 hours.
The sudden death of Labour candidate Mr F Collindridge in Barnsley,
Yorkshire, means polling will not take place there until 8 November.
The first results, which started coming in late last night, put Labour
ahead.
But by early this afternoon, the Conservatives had taken the lead.
At about 1730 hours today, when it became clear the Conservatives had a
majority, Clement Attlee drove to Buckingham Palace to tender his
resignation as Labour prime minister.
Winston Churchill, leader of the Conservatives, was received by the
King soon afterwards and accepted his invitation to form Great Britain's
40th government.
Mr Churchill is nearly 77 and the second oldest prime minister in
history. William Gladstone was 83 when he formed his last government.
Opinion polls throughout the five-week election campaign had predicted
a comfortable majority for the Conservatives and it will come as some
disappointment the gap was not bigger.
Several main issues were highlighted during the campaign including the
rising cost of living, housing and the expensive rearmament programme
which has been ongoing since the war.
Voters rejected Labour's tactic of labelling Mr Churchill as a
warmonger and instead embraced
the Conservatives election promise that they would now create a "strong
and free" Britain.
Throughout the campaign Mr Churchill has spoken of the need for a
broad-based government and he is widely expected to appoint a Cabinet with
as wide a representation as possible.
Following his victory in his constituency of Woodford, Essex, he said:
"We have all, I feel, a great deal in common; and now, perhaps there will
be a lull in our party strife which will enable us to understand more what
is good in our opponents and not to be so very clever at finding out all
their shortcomings."
Mr Attlee was in his constituency of West Walthamstow the day
before the election. He recorded his vote at Caxton Hall and was returned
with a majority of more than 11,000.
The new Parliament will be sworn in on Wednesday 31 October and the
State opening of Parliament will take place on 6 November.
Results from Inverness, Orkney and Zetland, the Western Isles and
Argyll are expected some time tomorrow.
