Tony Brown's verdict on ministerial casualties

Tony Brown, the outgoing chief minister, says three government ministers losing their seats in the 2011 general election isn't necessarily a judgement on the past government.

Last night (Thursday), Social Care Minister Martyn Quayle, Treasury Minister Anne Craine and Home Affairs Minister Adrian Earnshaw all failed to regain their seats.

Most polls in the run-up to the election highlighted the importance of national issues and concerns on the minds of voters, but Mr Brown says there are plenty of other reasons why people lose elections: