Vote 2011 reactions

Party leaders are giving their initial verdicts after an eventful night at counts up and down the country.

In Scotland the Scottish National party have performed impressively across the board, with a 12% swing in their favour against both Labour and the Liberal Democrats.

The Lib Dems have suffered terribly at the hands of Labour councillors in the north of England and have lost net control of four councils so far.

Some party figures are now calling for deputy prime minister Nick Clegg to resign as a result.

The Conservatives, by contrast, will respond to the night's results with relief as their vote broadly held up.

Labour performed well but their revival in the south was checked by the Tories.