Big Conservative majority delivers political certainty
The general election has delivered political certainty with the Conservative Party on course to achieve a majority of around 75 seats (7am).
Boris Johnson secured the largest Tory majority in a generation and once again promised to “get Brexit done”.
The Withdrawal Bill is now expected to be brought back to Parliament immediately and be passed ahead of the January 31 deadline. A Budget and a more significant Cabinet reshuffle is likely to follow.
It is the fourth consecutive election loss for the Labour Party, with Jeremy Corbyn announcing he will not lead the party into another election.
The Liberal Democrats will also be looking for a new leader after Jo Swinson lost her Dunbartonshire East seat as the SNP strengthened its stranglehold in Scotland.
There were Conservative gains in a number of constituencies that have returned Labour MPs for decades, including Blyth Valley, Workington, Burnley and Leigh.
The pound had risen sharply when the exit poll was published, rising nearly 3% against the dollar to an 18-month high of $1.35 – up from $1.20 in August. The pound reached its highest level against the euro since the 2016 referendum.
Just before 7am, with a handful of seats still to declare, the Conservatives had won 361 seats, Labour 203, the SNP 48, Liberal Democrats 11 and 22 others.
