Polls are coming under fire for failing to reflect the true intentions of UK voters, but Professor John Curtice, of Strathclyde University, said: "The polls could be wrong or there could have been a late swing."

The problem with the polls had been that they under-estimated Conservative support and over-estimated Labour support, he said. However, he said the polls had been right about the SNP and the Lib Dems.

"The market research industry has to take it on the chin," he said, adding that the industry would now hold an inquiry into what happened, as it did when the polls were wrong in 1992.

Andrew Marr said the problem with polls was that the election campaigns had been seen through their prism - which was now known to be the "wrong prism". He would like to have the next campaign without polls, he said.

Douglas Fraser
BBC Scotland

@ScotChambers, external of Commerce on #GE2015: "Our message to all Scottish MPs: business and our economy should remain the central driver"

BBC Scotland News

The Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson has said David Cameron would act "respectfully" in recognition of Scotland's need for change, while keeping the country united.

Image source, Getty Images

She said: "Let me make one thing clear this afternoon, it is that the two million Scots who voted to keep our United Kingdom together just seven months ago will not be forgotten in the wake of this victory

"And I commit, once again today, to always speaking up on your behalf and always defending the decision your made last year to keep the country together."

@BBCBreaking

Polling organisations announce inquiry into accuracy of polls during #GE2015 campaign bbc.in/1D8QkGJ

In case you missed it...

Here's how Scotland's political map has changed.

Douglas Fraser
BBC Scotland

CBI Scotland's Hugh Aitken: Business wants SNP to focus on competitiveness, building homes, keeping UK in EU. Deficit needs to come down

While we're on the subject of election maps, this picture of yesterday's predicted election map and Maggie Simpson is doing the rounds on Twitter. @alexmclaughlan is thought to be the first person to tweet the image.

Image source, Unknown

Alex Campbell
Newsnight producer

Samantha Cameron appears to be so pleased with the night's results that she's decided to wear them.

David Cowling
Editor, BBC Political Research Unit

I monitored 91 GB-wide voting intention polls during the 2015 election campaign and found nothing in them to prepare me for the final outcome.

Image source, EPA

Read the full article here.

So, how might the next few weeks and months go for David Cameron, who is now back in Downing Street having won the election?

Image source, Thinkstock

BBC Scotland's Douglas Fraser ponders the kind of memos that might be sent to the UK's prime minister.

Douglas Fraser
BBC Scotland

CBI's John Cridland: @nicolasturgeon said vote was "not about independence or another referendum, which business will be heartened to hear"

BBC Scotland News

Get the latest news on #RepScot from 1405.

Watch on BBC One Scotland or online here.

BBC Trending
What's popular and why

One by one, as the UK general election results came in, big political names lost their seats at Westminster - and the internet responded with satire, wry comments and memes.

BBC Trending picks up the biggest so far.

You can get all the details of the vote in your area on our find your constituency page.

Bert, Fife: There will be a lot of Holyrood Labour MSPs shaking in their shoes now that 40 ex-Labour MPs are looking for a new job. Is there not some jobs going in 2016 at Holyrood?

Fraser Wilson: The finest example of hubris I've seen in a long long time! Goodbye and good riddance to Danny Alexander and company - a reminder not to patronise the Scottish electorate!

Margaret, Aberdeen: The SNP have just delivered us a Tory majority government, sounds familiar. Nicola Sturgeon has tried to absolve herself by saying that even if Labour had retained their seats in Scotland they wouldn't have won, this is true but she should be under no illusion that her party's nationalistic rhetoric scared voters south of the border into voting Tory. The real winner here is Rupert Murdoch who has achieved exactly what he wanted, the Tories back in Downing Street and Labour wiped out in Scotland.

Derek, Inverness: Nicola Sturgeon has real problems now. Her campaign was largely based on spending money she doesn't actually control, and doing so in cahoots with a government (Labour) who didn't win.

Here is a round up of the regional stories about the election:

• North East, Orkney and Shetland: Salmond hails roar of 'Scottish lion'

• Highlands and Islands: Lib Dems wiped out in Highlands

• Tayside and Central: SNP sweep Dundee amid Tayside wins

Image source, Getty Images

• Edinburgh, East and Fife: SNP take Scotland's safest seat

• Glasgow and West: SNP wins all seven Glasgow seats

• South Scotland: Mundell holds on but SNP oust two

@BBCBreaking

Harriet Harman to stand down as Labour's deputy leader when new leader is elected #GE2015 pic.twitter.com/FbultznOpG

In his victory speech, David Cameron said the country was "on the brink of something special".

He said: "As a majority government we will be able to deliver all of [our manifesto]."

This would include creating millions more jobs and an in/out referendum on Europe.

Image source, Getty Images

Mr Cameron said he would "govern as a party of one United Kingdom" and "implement as fast as I can the devolution promised to the people of Scotland" to create the "strongest devolved government anywhere in the world".

This would be done with "fairness to England".

"Together we can make Great Britain greater still," he declared.

BBC Scotland News

Scotland's first minister said that the UK government could not ignore what had happened in Scotland last night.

She added: "SNP MPs are there to stand up for Scotland. It's inconceivable that any government would ignore the democratic will of the Scottish people, which was expressed very, very clearly last night.

"The people of Scotland have put their trust in us.

"It was Labour's job to beat the Conservatives in England and Labour hasn't come close to doing that.

"With a Tory majority government it is essential that we have that big team of MPs."

Nicola Sturgeon said she had yet to congratulate David Cameron on his party's victory.

She added: "I have no doubt that I will speak to the prime minister in early course and I will be making it very clear to him that Scotland voice has to be heard because that is what the people of Scotland voted for."

Tim Reid
Political correspondent, BBC News

PM says he will implement "as fast as I can" the further devolution promised to Scotland