London - In London's freewheeling financial district, a "work hard, play hard" Conservative heartland, a group of workers erupted in delight at a pub as exit polls flashed a swing towards Prime Minister David Cameron.
Shouts of "Hooray!" were let out as the surprise projections were announced on television screens at the pub in the City of London, a tightly-packed district of skyscrapers that is traditionally a key source of support and donors for the party.
"Why would you change? The economy is doing well after five years with the Conservatives," said Grant, referencing what has been a solid economic recovery since 2010.
Financial markets appeared to concur, with the pound rallying to its highest level since late February in Asian trading.
Heading into the election, the International Monetary Fund forecast solid economic growth for Britain for this year and next, at 2.7 percent and 2.3 percent respectively, but official data has shown that the country's economy is on course to grow slower than expected in the first three months of 2015.
In the City of London, however, the Conservatives' stewardship of the economy appeared to be their trump card over the main opposition Labour party.
"I voted for the Conservatives because Labour is not competent on financial matters," said Ben Woodthorpe, 39, as he sipped a beer in the Draft House, a bar in the heart of the financial quarter.
Cameron would extend an austerity drive borne out of the 2008 global financial crisis, with the Conservatives vowing to bring the budget of the world's fifth-biggest economy back to balance.
Early results on the night confounded polls throughout the campaign that showed Labour virtually tied with the Conservatives, and while the Conservatives do not look to have a clear majority in the House of Commons, they are in a strong position to remain in power.
AFP
