Conservatives lead UK vote: exit poll

LONDON: British Prime Minister David Cameron’s Conservatives were expected to win 316 seats — just short of the required majority of 326 and ahead of centre-left Labour on 239, an exit poll showed on Thursday as the authorities started the vote count.
Their current junior coalition partner, the Liberal Democrats, could win 10 seats, according to the exit poll released by British broadcasters following a close-fought general election campaign.
The pro-independence Scottish National Party was set for a historic victory in Britain’s general election, according to an exit poll on Thursday that showed them winning 58 out of 59 seats in Scotland. The result dramatically increases the party’s current tally in parliament of just 6 MPs and will give it far greater influence in British politics.