Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Friday 8 May 2015

1. CONSERVATIVES WIN GENERAL ELECTION

The Tories have confounded the opinion polls to win the UK general election, securing a narrow majority in Parliament. With 331 seats David Cameron will be able to govern without the need for a coalition. In his victory speech the Conservative leader pledged to deliver on devolution and an In/Out EU referendum.

Election results live 2015: David Cameron wins UK general election

2. SNP WIN 56 SEATS IN SCOTTISH LANDLSIDE

The Scottish National Party has won all but three of Scotland’s 59 Commons seats, with swings in excess of 30% in many constituencies. Alex Salmond said there was "a lion roaring through Scotland". Labour big names Jim Murphy and Douglas Alexander lost their seats, as did Lib Dem Danny Alexander.

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up

Scottish independence: Is IndyRef2 'dead' after election losses?

3. POLLING FIRMS LAUNCH ELECTION INQUIRY

The British Polling Council has announced an independent inquiry after the Conservatives stormed to an unexpected victory in the general election. Almost every poll showed Labour and the Tories neck and neck prior to Thursday's vote. The inquiry will investigate the "apparent bias" of the pre-election polls.

Polling inquest: YouGov and Co need to provide answers

4. ROYAL NAVY RESCUE FOR 110 MIGRANTS

HMS Bulwark has picked up 110 migrants found adrift in a “suspicious rubber boat” in the Mediterranean, its first such mission since it was deployed to help tackle the crisis of refugees trying to get to Europe from Africa and Syria. The group was transferred to an Italian coastguard vessel and taken ashore.

5. TALIBAN CLAIMS IT SHOT DOWN HELICOPTER

The Taliban in Pakistan has claimed it shot down a military helicopter carrying senior diplomats in the north of the country. Seven people, including the ambassadors of Norway and the Philippines and the wives of the Malaysian and Indonesian ambassadors, were killed. Seven other ambassadors survived.

6. ROGUE SPACECRAFT BURNS UP ON RE-ENTRY

The Russian space agency, Roscosmos, says its out-of-control unmanned cargo spacecraft Progress M-27M has burnt up on re-entry into the atmosphere, with only a few fragments expected to fall into the Pacific. The ship was carrying more than three tonnes of supplies to the International Space Station.

7. EUROPE MARKS 70TH VE DAY ANNIVERSARY

The 70th anniversary of the end of WW2 on the continent is being marked across Europe. A two-minute silence was be held at the Cenotaph in London, where there were awkward moments between the UK's political leaders, and 200 beacons will be lit across the UK. German leader Angela Merkel attended a parade in Moscow boycotted by the UK and US.

VE Day: how World War 2 ended

8. BALLS, FARAGE AND GALLOWAY LOSE

The biggest election shock was the defeat of Labour shadow chancellor Ed Balls, who lost his Morley and Outwood seat to the Conservatives. Nigel Farage was defeated in Thanet South and has quit as Ukip leader. George Galloway lost his Bradford West seat while most Lib Dems, including Vince Cable and Ed Davey were ousted.

Ed Balls loses his seat in shock result

9. NSA SURVEILLANCE ILLEGAL SAYS COURT

The National Security Agency's surveillance programme has been ruled illegal by a US federal court, in a significant blow to the White House and intelligence agencies. The government is expected to appeal to the Supreme Court, arguing that the surveillance programme is necessary for counter terrorism and national security.

NSA mass surveillance 'illegal', rules US federal court

10. MILIBAND AND CLEGG RESIGN AFTER POLL

Ed Miliband has stepped down as Labour leader after his party's dismal showing in the general election. Conceding defeat Miliband said he was "truly sorry" not to succeed. His deputy Harriet Harman has also resigned. Meanwhile Nick Clegg has quit as leader of the Lib Dems after a catastrophic night in which they won only eight seats.

Ed Miliband resigns after Labour's election 'bloodbath'