Brits confound...

This election has changed the political geography of the United Kingdom. North of the border in Scotland, a nationalist party has swept away the country's major political parties, especially Labour,

which had held sway in Scotland for many years.

Perhaps playing on the fears roused by politicians and press alike that Scottish MPs with different agendas and ambitions could be playing a major role in Westminster politics, a fresh wave of conservative nationalism seems to have been spreading across England.

This is perhaps what registered at the polling booths at the final moments of the election campaign and led to a surge for the Conservatives who had expressed concerns at what they perceived as a rising tide of Scottish nationalism that could be reflected in the Westminster parliament.

Before the polls, pundits on TV and in the press predicting a hung parliament foresaw a weekend or more of haggling on whether the incumbent should continue to stay at No.10 or a new occupant should move in.

Some of those who brought up this issue thought it could take several days before this conundrum was sorted out as officials re-read their Cabinet manuals and delved into history.

Fortunately, that did not happen and the existing prime minister now goes about his business of selecting his cabinet. He has already started by retaining four of his senior ministers, which he did when he returned to Downing Street after his audience with the Queen.

With Scottish nationalist virtually braying at the gates of Westminster, David Cameron will have to tread carefully as he deals with those across the northern border and in Europe, where he promised to renegotiate the terms of Britain's partnership in the European Union.

In his first words to the media after returning to his residence from Buckingham Palace, Mr Cameron said, "We would govern as a party of one nation, one United Kingdom". Taking up the issue of devolution, he promised to carry out manifesto pledges and Scotland would become the "strongest devolved government anywhere in the world", which sounded like an initial sop to the Scottish nationalists who will be the third biggest party in parliament.

So the day ended not with the bang that some expected there would be as the struggle to enter No.10 began, but with the sweet smell of success for David Cameron who could sleep easy for the moment. But some time ahead, he would have to worry about his slender majority of 12 and prevent his own backbenchers making heavy demands as did happen to John Major.

No easy nights, however, for the Labour, Lib-Dem and UKip parties who have now to start looking for new leaders who can resurrect their party fortunes after the election battering.