London - Britain's Prime Minister David Cameron was due to sketch out his new government on Saturday after returning to power in a stunning election victory that toppled his three main rivals.
Defying the opinion polls, Cameron's Conservatives won 331 of the 650 seats in parliament, giving him a second term in office -- this time with a majority for his centre-right party.
After what had been derided as a flat election campaign, the final twist on polling day Thursday triggered shock results for all the major parties.
There were dramatic gains for the Conservatives and the secessionist Scottish National Party (SNP), while the Labour opposition and Liberal Democrat leaders quit over their parties' electoral drubbing.
The UK Independence Party (UKIP) leader also quit, after a huge swell in support for the populist party secured only one seat.
In their first editions since the full election result, British newspapers said Saturday that Cameron had pulled of a triumphant victory thanks to a surge in support from so-called shy Conservatives.
However, they also warned he now faced a tough battle to keep Scotland in the United Kingdom and Britain in the European Union.
The election exposed deep divisions on these issues and Cameron avoided triumphalism in his victory speech, promising to "bring our country together".
On returning to the prime minister's 10 Downing Street office, he pledged to press on with a renegotiation of Britain's relationship with the EU then hold an in-or-out referendum on the outcome, by the end of 2017.
AFP
