ALL three main opposition leaders are facing up to a new era after today's resignations of Ed Miliband, Nigel Farage and Nick Clegg.

Labour, UKIP and the Lib Dems must start afresh after the Conservative sweep left them tasting bitter defeat.

UKIP's Worcester branch this afternoon described Mr Clegg's decision to quit, which followed his defeat in South Thanet, as "very disappointing".

South Thanet was won by Conservative Craig Mackinlay with a majority of 2,808.

James Goad, who came third for UKIP in Worcester's parliamentary contest, said: "I must admit I didn't see the results coming, it's a Tory tidal wave.

"He's said he'll have to decide whether to stand again in the new leadership contest, I think he's had to endure real attacks on his character in this General Election campaign.

"It's a real shame he didn't get in, we've ended up with four million votes and got one MP, first-past-the-post is a particularly cruel system for us.

"Lots of people didn't see it coming."

Worcester's Liberal Democrats said Nick Clegg had a lot to be proud of despite the drubbing.

Councillor Sue Askin said: "We joined the coalition under difficult circumstances and we did it for the right reasons.

"I think a lot of our work within the coalition has been overlooked and we were not given the credit we were due a lot of the time.

I think he Nick Clegg probably didn’t have much of a choice, but Miliband and Farage have stepped down so he’s not the only one."

Mr Miliband said he was "truly sorry" and quit today after Labour's worst set of results since Neil Kinnock.

Councillor Adrian Gregson, Labour group leader in Worcester, said: "I think we need to make a decision quickly and take stock of what's happened.

"In Worcester we are second everywhere, we need someone with the ability to take on Ed's work, tackle the bankers, capitalists, media empires who are trying to distort Britain for their own ends, some without paying tax.

"The difficulty is, people might say 'we need a more moderate' leader, but Ed was entirely moderate, the idea of 'red Ed' is a complete myth.

"Do you go anti-austerity like the SNP and Greeks, clearly there's an argument for that, but whatever happens we must move quickly."