Election reaction - 9 May

Summary

David Cameron considers the make-up of his Cabinet after the Conservatives' election victory
Michael Gove is made justice secretary and Chris Grayling, leader of the Commons
George Osborne, Theresa May, Philip Hammond, Michael Fallon and Nicky Morgan remain in jobs they held in coalition
Vacancies at the top table include business secretary, energy secretary, and treasury secretary after senior Lib Dems lost their seats
Harriet Harman has taken over as acting Labour leader after Ed Miliband stood down
The Lib Dems are also looking for a new leader after Nick Clegg said he would make way

Live Reporting

Dominic Howell and Marie Jackson

Turning purplepublished at 18:34
Image source, UKIP
In the local elections, UKIP has taken control of its first ever UK council in Thanet. You'll remember that former party leader Nigel Farage fought and lost Thanet South parliamentary seat. But he was back in Kent today to heap praise on the newly-elected UKIP councillors.
Quote Message
It was great to be at the Winter Gardens in Margate today to see Thanet District Council go purple. It shows that there is a huge UKIP vote here in Thanet, and when people are not inducted by external fearmongering and calls to vote tactically, they overwhelmingly vote for UKIP."
Nigel Farage
Westminster protestpublished at 18.33
Image source, Getty Images
"What's with all the cuts?" asked anti-austerity protesters earlier as they congregated in Westminster.
A Met Police spokesman said no arrests had been made yet.
He added: "It's not a million miles away from the VE Day celebrations but there's no suggestion that it will interrupt that."
Image source, PA
Anti-austerity protestpublished at 18.14
Robinson: Help from Rory Bremnerpublished at 18:02
BBC political editor
Boundary changespublished at 18:01
Hackney North and Stoke Newington MP
Cameron wins and losespublished at 17:54
Daily Mirror associate editor
Anti-austerity protestspublished at 17.45
The new Conservative government may be in its infancy but it hasn't stopped people taking to the streets in protest over it.
Anti-austerity campaigners and supporters took part in swiftly organised campaigns against the Conservatives this afternoon.
A large police presence met about 100 protesters outside Conservative campaign headquarters in Westminster.
Send us your commentspublished at 17:24
Email: politics@bbc.co.uk
Stephen Burke:
The parties that offered firm proposals for the future of Britain did best out of the election. Tories' message of fiscal prudence resonated, UKIP's message of secure borders resonated and the SNP's idea of Scotland having a distinct voice in Westminster worked well. There are lessons in this. Britain is conservative, that is right of centre leaning, so the politics must reflect that view.
Let's be positivepublished at 17.13
Guardian columnist
Church: 'Mad as hell'published at 17:08
Image source, Wales News
Singer Charlotte Church has joined a rally in Cardiff, protesting against austerity cuts. She addressed about 200 people over a loudspeaker and carried a placard which read she was "mad as hell".
Read more on the story here.
Hemming: Fan of Lambpublished at 16:48
BBC News Channel
Image source, PA
Liberal Democrat John Hemming, who lost his seat in Birmingham Yardley, says he partly put it down to voters changing their minds at the last minute. He says they put a cross next to his name, then a fear of Ed Miliband in office under the influence of the SNP would cause them to recast their vote for the Conservatives.
As far as the party's leadership contest goes, he says he's a "great fan" of Norman Lamb.
Asked if the party needs an ideological rethink, he says it needs to be clearer about what the party stands for in any general election and state whether it would go into a coalition with the Conservatives or Labour - not both.
Labour hearts Londonpublished at 16:40
Jim Pickard, chief political correspondent for the Financial Times
Salmond raises prospect of another referendumpublished at 16.16
James Cook, BBC Scotland Correspondent
Former Scottish first minister Alex Salmond says Scotland is closer to independence after the SNP's stunning success in the general election when it won 56 of the country's 59 seats.
Mr Salmond, who was elected as the MP for Gordon, said the party now had an "overwhelming mandate from the Scottish people to carry forward Scotland's interests".
But he added that "the timing of any future referendum" was "a matter for the Scottish people" and the matter of tactics was a question for Nicola Sturgeon.
Neil Findlay resigns from Scottish Labour shadow cabinetpublished at 16.14
Ben Riley-Smith, political correspondent for the Daily Telegraph
Send us your commentspublished at 16:14 British Summer Time 9 May 2015
Email: politics@bbc.co.uk
Adam Eveleigh:
Labour failed for three reasons: SNP surge, less than perfect leadership (too many slip-ups/failures), and a very effective negative Tory campaign. Question is, how to make sure it doesn't happen again?
Feeling emotionalpublished at 16:00 British Summer Time 9 May 2015
Stephen Bush, editor of @TheStaggers
Farron to make decision in 'next few days'published at 15:50
Tim Farron - one of eight remaining Lib Dem MPs and the man most often tipped as the party's next leader - has said he will announce whether he will stand in the "next few days".
He told Sky News: "I am determined to play a big role in making sure the party survives and thrives".
But he said he will be listening to activists and members before making his next move.
He added: "There has never been more need for a Liberal party" arguing the party was the victim of the politics of fear.
He says the party will build itself from the "ground up," claiming that it had gained more 2,500 new members in the past few days.
Lib Dem leadership choicepublished at 15:40
After the Lib Dem's collapse at the polls, the party only has eight MPs who could succeed Nick Clegg as leader. The likely contenders for the Lib Dem leadership are:
Angela Eagle considers Labour leadership bidpublished at 15:29 British Summer Time 9 May 2015
Faisal Islam, political editor for @SkyNews
UKIP leadership struggle?published at 15:15
Who is going to succeed Nigel Farage as UKIP leader? Perhaps Nigel Farage? Or another UKIP contender?