Nick Clegg has resigned as Liberal Democrat leader after a disastrous result for the party in the UK general election.
Speaking on Friday morning, Mr Clegg admitted the results were “immeasurably more crushing” than he could have feared.
His party has been reduced to a rump of just eight seats following a devastating General Election which has seen the party completely collapse even in its heartlands. It had 57 seats in the House of Commons in 2010.
Mr Clegg, MP for Sheffield Hallam, reflected on Lib Dem achievements in government and said serving his country had been a privilege.
But he said: “I always expected this election to be exceptionally difficult for the Liberal Democrats given the heavy responsibilities we have had to bear in government in the most challenging of circumstances.
“But clearly the results have been immeasurably more crushing and unkind than I could ever have feared. For that, of course, I must take responsibility.”
He said it was simply been “heartbreaking to see so many friends and colleagues who have served their constituents so diligently, over so many years, abruptly lose their seats because of forces entirely beyond their control”.