Clegg among high-profile casualties

Former deputy prime minister Nick Clegg lost his seat in one of the most high-profile defeats of the night.

The ex-liberal Democrat leader lost to Labour rival Jared O’mara, who took Sheffield Hallam with 21,881 votes to Mr Clegg’s 19,756.

A sombre-looking Mr Clegg said he had “never shirked from the political battlefield” and warned of the “agonising” future ahead for the next government that seeks to unite a divided country.

Congratulating his rival, Mr Clegg said it was “the greatest privilege of my political life” to represent Sheffield Hallam for the last 12 years, as he issued a plea to parties to seek unity as they try to navigate the Brexit negotiations.

He put concerns over the talks at the heart of his speech.

Nick Clegg lost his Sheffield Hallam seat to Labour