1950: Labour wins slim majority
The Labour Party has won the general election, with Clement Attlee returning as Prime Minister.
But the result leaves the country in a state of uncertainty as it is the closest for 100 years.
Votes are still being counted after an extremely tense night but so far the government has an overall majority of just 13.
The state of play at the moment is that Labour has won 314 seats, the Conservatives 294 and the Liberals just seven.
The Liberals lost a record 314 election deposits.
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With such a slender majority it will be difficult for Mr Attlee's government to continue with its programme of nationalisation of major industries like iron and steel - bitterly opposed by the Opposition. Speaking from Conservative headquarters Winston Churchill, under whose war-time cabinet Mr Attlee had served as deputy prime minister, said: "Parliament will be in a very unstable condition whatever Parliament results from this election."
Many commentators believe there will have to be another election held within 12 months.
In the meantime it is expected that Ernest Bevin will remain as Foreign Secretary and Sir Stafford Cripps as Chancellor of the Exchequer.
Mr Attlee has been in power since July 1945 when Labour won its first ever overall majority. In that time he has seen through major social and economic changes.
Last year he devalued the pound in order to reduce the price of exports and increase the cost of imports to reduce the balance of payments.
He has begun the introduction of the Welfare State with the National Insurance Act providing for the more vulnerable in British society.
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7 December 1955 - Attlee resigns as Labour leader
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