Conservatives concede defeat in UK elections
London: British Conservative Party leader Michael Howard has conceded defeat in the elections to the British parliament, which sees the Labour party being returned to power for a historic three times in a row.

The Tories (Conservatives) may however draw some consolation from the fact that Labour comes back to power with a substantially reduced majority, after their landslide 1997 and 2001 victories.

Putting a spin on his party's showing in the elections the Liberal Democrat leader Charles Kennedy said that the voters had ushered in a new era of three-party politics. Kennedy said: "The era of three-party politics right across the UK is now with us.

And in a shock victory, a fiercely anti-war politician won re-election to parliament as an independent, saying in an angry acceptance speech, "Mr Blair, this is for Iraq." George Galloway, a veteran legislator kicked out of the party after he urged British soldiers not to fight in Iraq, defeated Blair loyalist Oona King in east London. He ran as a representative of the Respect party, which he founded to oppose the Iraq war.

Meanwhile Prime Minister Tony Blair unveiled his new Cabinet on Friday, changing leadership in defense, health and the House of Commons. Key figures, such as Treasury chief Gordon Brown, widely seen as Blair's successor, and Foreign Secretary Jack Straw, however kept their posts.

Geoff Hoon, the Defense Secretary, was named leader of the House of Commons, and Patricia Hewitt left her post as Trade Secretary for Health Secretary. John Reid was appointed Defense Secretary, while Peter Hain was named Northern Ireland Secretary. Alan Johnson has moved from the work and pensions portfolio to become Secretary of State for Productivity, Energy and Industry, the new name for the Department of Trade and Industry.
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