Theresa May, after replacing David Cameroon as Prime Minister, called this election in order to get a bigger majority in the parliament which would strengthen her hand in the upcoming Brexit negotiations. She, however, lost the gamble and has emerged from it with 12 fewer MPs, no overall majority and is now almost certainly reliant on the support of the Democratic Unionist Party in Northern Ireland to govern. The election has proved disastrous for her.
The Labour Party, on the other hand, have secured around 261 seats, a gain of about 30. They also secured one of their best ever vote shares, likely to be higher than 40 percent. Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn, described by many within his own party as “unelectable”, seemed buoyed. He issued an immediate call for Theresa May’s resignation.
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The results of this historically close election remain confusing. Nobody seems to be clear about how the situation pan out – there’s little precedent for an election this complex and this close.
Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer John McDonnell has said Labour is ready to form a minority government, adding that there would be “no deals” and that the party would put forward a Queen’s Speech and call on minor parties to back it.
The Scottish National Party have failed to hang on to many of its MPs, losing 21 seats to Labour, the Tories and the Lib Dems. They have lost their leader in Westminster, Angus Robertson. Many are saying the success of Tories in Scotland – they won 13 seats, unprecedented in recent memory – is all that has stopped Jeremy Corbyn from becoming Prime Minister.
The results of this historically close election remain confusing. Nobody seems to be clear about how the situation pan out – there’s little precedent for an election this complex and this close.
Theresa May has announced that she intends to remain as Prime Minister, for now, but her minority government will make it very difficult for her to govern. Parliament has never been more important. Pro-EU Tory MPs like Ken Clarke are likely to start making demands on the government for a much softer Brexit; anti-EU MPs like Andrea Leadsom are likely to push for a much harder Brexit. Theresa May will find it extremely difficult to keep her party together amid the tussle that is predicted to ensue.
Read More: Jeremy Corbyn: UK can be better off out of the EU
UKIP, the far right party most vocally supportive of Brexit, have failed to win a seat and their share of the vote has collapsed
The incredibly complex Brexit negotiations, due to begin this month, are now in disarray. It will be extremely difficult for Theresa May to negotiate the sort of deal she wants. The 27 remaining countries of the EU are in a much stronger position and are likely to call all the shots during the negotiations.
There isn’t yet a clear picture about turnout, but it’s very likely that youth turnout was high and that helped Corbyn’s fortunes.
UKIP, the far right party most vocally supportive of Brexit, have failed to win a seat and their share of the vote has collapsed