Ed Balls loses Morley and Outwood seat to Tories

Ed Balls, Labour's shadow chancellor, has lost his Morley and Outwood seat to the Conservatives.

After a recount, it was confirmed that Balls had lost to Tory rival Andrea Jenkyns by 422 votes.

He joins Douglas Alexander and Jim Murphy as high-profile Labour casualties.

Labour leader Ed Miliband - who is now under significant pressure - earlier acknowledged that it had been a "very disappointing and difficult night" for his party" after it was swept aside in Scotland and failed to take a number of target seats.

And another party grandee, deputy leader Harriet Harman, has said that she too will step down, but only after Labour picks new leadership.