Will they bounce back? The Conservative Party has lost power after 14 years. Some say the “most successful party in history” may finally disappear altogether.
Devastation for Tories after 14 year rule
Way out: Rishi Sunak and wife, Akshata Murty, after voting in Yorkshire yesterday. His Conservative party faces one of the worst defeats in history. Glossary
Conservative - Holding traditional values, and in a political context, favouring policies such as private ownership.
Tories - The Tory Party was the former name of the Conservative Party. The phrase is still used to refer to Conservatives.
Extinction - Completely dying out.
Right-wing - Sometimes referred to as 'conservative', this is a range of political beliefs that emphasise the value of tradition, individual freedom and responsibility, low taxes and a hands-off approach to government.
Prime ministers - In some countries, the leader of the nation is known as the prime minister.
Journalist - Somebody who writes about the latest news for newspapers and magazines or explains the news on television.
Liberal Democrats - Also known as the Lib Dems, a liberal political party in the UK.
Labour - Britain's main left-of-centre political party.
Immigration - The permanent movement of people into a country.
Reform UK - Officially Reform UK, a political party set up in 2018 as the Brexit Party. Its most prominent figure is Nigel Farage.
MP - Member of Parliament. There are 650 MPs representing people in different areas of the UK.
Brexit - The UK's departure from the European Union.
Liz Truss - The Conservative prime minister of the United Kingdom from September to October 2022.
Partygate - Nickname given to the controversy over a series of illegal gatherings hosted in 10 Downing Street, Johnson’s office and home, during the Covid-19 lockdown.