Cameron looks to be heading back to Number 10

David Cameron has said he wants to bring the “United Kingdom together” as the Conservatives remain on course for a slim majority in the Commons.

A BBC forecast gives the Tories 329 seats, Labour 235, the Lib Dems eight, the SNP 56, Plaid Cymru three, UKIP one, the Greens one and others 19. 326 seats are needed for an overall majority.

The Lib Dems suffered a disastrous night at the polls with Vince Cable, Ed Davey and Danny Alexander losing their seats.

Labour had a bad night in Scotland after almost being wiped out by the SNP, while shadow chancellor Ed Balls also lost his seat.

Mr Cameron said: "My aim remains simple - to govern on the basis of governing for everyone in our United Kingdom.

"I want to bring our country together, our United Kingdom together, not least by implementing as fast as we can the devolution that we rightly promised and came together with other parties to agree both for Wales and for Scotland.

"In short, I want my party, and I hope a government I would like to lead, to reclaim a mantle that we should never have lost - the mantle of One Nation, One United Kingdom. That is how I will govern if I am fortunate enough to form a government in the coming days."

As part of its election manifesto the Conservatives committed to investing £15 billion in roads.