Hung Parliament puts May’s future in doubt

The UK has woken up to a hung parliament this morning, after a surprisingly bad night for the Conservatives.

Prime Minister Theresa May called the election to increase her mandate and strengthen her hand for the Brexit negotiations, but has instead fallen short of commanding a Parliamentary majority. She will head to Buckingham Palace at 12.30 today to attempt to set up a minority government.

Jeremy Corbyn has been rewarded for his positive campaign with a result that strengthens his position as Labour Party leader.

Former SNP leader Alex Salmond – who would later lose his own seat of Gordon – summed up the position when he said: “It’s not clear who has won, but it is clear who has lost – Theresa May.”

The Prime Minister is expected to face a crucial few hours that could result in her being the shortest-serving Prime Minister in 95 years.

Surprise losses include Canterbury, which the party has held for 100 years. Home Secretary Amber Rudd needed two recounts to keep hold of her Hastings and Rye seat, by 346 votes, but ministers James Wharton and Jane Ellison are out of Parliament.

The Conservatives have 318 seats and Labour had 261 – meaning neither party can claim a Parliamentary majority of 326.

The SNP lost around 21 seats – including its Westminster leader Angus Robertson – and was left with 35, with the Liberal Democrats to increase by four to 12, albeit without former leader Nick Clegg.

The UKIP vote has largely collapsed across the country. Its leader, Paul Nuttall, finished third in Boston and Skegness but received just 3,308 votes, nearly 24,000 behind the successful Conservative candidate Matt Warman.