Energy and climate change secretary Ed Davey has lost his seat in an election that has seen the loss of several high profile MPs with influence over energy and environment policy.
Davey lost his Kingston and Surbiton seat to Conservative James Berry by 2,834 votes. He was credited with supporting renewable energy, in particular sheltering onshore wind from attempts by the Tory party to limit its growth.
The Conservatives have pledged to end any new subsidies for onshore wind and change planning rules to ensure that local people have the final say on windfarm applications. Trade body Renewable UK this morning urged the new government to confirm the importance of onshore wind in the UK's electricity mix, and added that the domestic wind-power industry now employs 34,000 people.
Another Liberal Democrat MP, environment minister Dan Rogerson lost in Cornwall North.
By contrast, the Conservative communities secretary Eric Pickles, who last year won the Chartered Institution of Water and Environment's Green Ribbon award for most environmentally destructive politician, held his Brentwood and Ongar seat with 58.8% of votes, while Tory energy and climate change minister Amber Rudd also held her seat in Hastings and Rye, winning 44% of the vote. Energy minister Matt Hancock held his Suffolk West constituency with 52% of the vote.
Meanwhile, Labour has lost shadow energy minister Tom Greatrex, who lost to SNP candidate Margaret Ferrier in the Scottish seat of Rutherglen and Hamilton West. Shadow energy secretary Caroline Flint held Don Valley with 46% of the vote. Shadow environment secretary Maria Eagle kept her seat, with a 69.1% share of the vote in Garston and Halewood. Shadow energy minister Jonathan Reynolds held Stalybridge and Hyde after winning 45% of votes.
The Green party had its best election performance, with over one million votes nationwide. Caroline Lucas held Brighton Pavilion and increased her share of the vote by 10.5% compared with 2010, achieving 41.8% of the votes cast.
Party leader Natalie Bennett won 12.8% of the vote in Holborn and St Pancras, coming third overall. The party also came second in Liverpool Riverside (12.1%), Manchester Gorton (9.8%) and Sheffield Central (15.8%). However, it failed to win two target seats, finishing second in Bristol West and third in Norwich South.
Conservative leader David Cameron is now set for a second term as prime minister and will shortly begin to appoint a new cabinet. Parliament commences on 18 May.
Full election results can be viewed here.
