Clockwatch: Key moments

2200 - All polling stations close across the UK.

2244 - Sunderland South first constituency to elect MP - Chris Mullin returned for Labour with 13,667 votes.

0021 - Lib Dems hold onto crucial constituency of Torbay, the Tories' number two target seat.

0059 - First Labour gain, Ynys Mon (Anglesey), taken from Plaid Cymru.

0118 - British National Party (BNP) secures 11% of vote in Oldham East & Saddleworth, a seat retained by Labour.

0123 - BNP comes third and takes 16% of vote in Oldham West and Royton, which Michael Meacher holds for Labour.

0127 - Tony Blair returned as MP for Sedgefield.

0145 - Former minister Peter Mandelson holds Hartlepool, saying: "I am a fighter, not a quitter".

0206 - Conservatives gain Romford from Labour on 9.2% swing of vote.

0211 - Charles Kennedy holds Ross, Skye and Inverness West, his majority substantially up.

0227 - Independent Richard Taylor, fighting local hospital closure, takes Wyre Forest from Labour, with 58% share of vote.

0243 - Keith Vaz holds Leicester East for Labour.

0248 - Lib Dems gain Chesterfield from Labour.

0249 - Conservatives gain Upminster from Labour.

0258 - Labour past winning post of 330 seats, Tony Blair wins second term for Labour.

0303 - Lib Dems take Teinbridge, party's top target, from Conservatives.

0308 - Conservatives regain Galloway and Upper Nithsdale, their first Scottish seat.

0317 - William Hague rings Tony Blair, conceding defeat and congratulating him.

0319 - Malcolm Rifkind fails to regain Edinburgh Pentlands for Conservatives from Labour.

0323 - Martin Bell fails to take Brentwood & Ongar from Conservatives.

0359 - Boris Johnson becomes MP, holding Henley for Conservatives.

0413 - Labour's first gain from Conservatives, taking Dorset South in contest where tactical voting played prominent part.

0426 - William Hague retains Richmond, Yorkshire, with increased majority, and says low turnout across UK is "sobering lesson" for all parties.

0543 - Tony Blair arrives at Millbank party HQ in London to festive scenes.