UK election result lowers risk of EU exit
Significance The election of a Conservative-only government will ensure broad continuity in both economic and international policy, as well as more stable government than had been expected. The new Parliament is likely to last its full five-year term. There will be a referendum by the end of 2017 on the United Kingdom's EU membership, but the likelihood of a UK vote to stay in has risen. Scotland may represent the new government's principal policy challenge. Impacts Financial markets are likely to receive the outcome with relief, given that the likely alternative was pronounced and atypical uncertainty. The greatest risk of 'Brexit' is now a renewed euro-area crisis harming the EU economy and UK public opinion. Serious bargaining over a future UK constitutional settlement may be deferred until after the Scottish Parliament election in May 2016. In the medium term, the Labour Party is likely to conclude that it needs to return to a more centrist, business-friendly, 'Blairite' stance. The extent to which the result defied pollsters' and forecasters' predictions could prompt significant change in the business.