Why were the Conservatives (UK) unable to win a majority in 2010?

[Coldstream]

Part of the issue was that they didn’t actually gain that many votes from Labour, they went up by 3% but Labour went down 6-7% and although a chunk went to the Tories it also went to minor parties and the Lib Dem’s. UKIP and the BNP combined gained 2% chiefly from Labour but usually in seats the Tory brand was too tainted to win in at this point, Pre-Brexit.

Also whilst Cameron did a good - and unsung - job at winning back some Lib Dem votes (why the Lib Dem’s suffered a net loss of seats; Romsey, Camborne etc) this didn’t translate to enough seats for an outright majority.

Basically, the Lib Dem’s won too many right leaning voters, chiefly concentrated in 40-60 Rural seats, for the Tories to get a majority. Their majority - such as it was - 2015-19 was based largely on winning those dozens of Lib Dem seats they hadn’t in 2010. Combined with the fact that they made absolutely no inroads in to Scotland due to Gordon Browns popularity there, only winning one seat like they had in 2001 and 2005.