UK election: Ruling Conservatives win majority

Result alllows Prime Minister Boris Johnson to push through his vision for Brexit

Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his girlfriend Carrie Symonds leave the Conservative Party's headquarters with their dog following the general election in London, Britain. Reuters

Supporters are seen as Green Party candidate Caroline Lucas is announced as the winner for the constituency of Brighton Pavilion at a counting centre for Britain's general election in Brighton, Britain. Reuters

Conservative Party candidate Imran Ahmad-Khan speaks after he is announced as the winner for the constituency of Wakefield at a counting centre for Britain's general election in Wakefield, Britain. Reuters

Labour Party candidate Lloyd Russell-Moyle celebrates with supporters after he is announced as the winner for the constituency of Brighton Kemptown at a counting centre for Britain's general election in Brighton, Britain. Reuters

Carrie Symonds, partner of British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, holds their dog at the counting centre in Britain's general election in Uxbridge, Britain, December 13, 2019. REUTERS/Toby Melville

Britain's opposition Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn reacts after the General Election results of the Islington North constituency were announced at a counting centre in Islington during Britain's general election, London, Britain. Reuters

First Minister and SNP Leader Nicola Sturgeon is mobbed by supporters as she arrives at the counting hall during the UK Parliamentary Elections at the SECC in Glasgow, Scotland. Getty Images

Ballots in a tray labelled Jo Swinson, Liberal Democrats candidate for East Dunbartonshire, are seen at a counting centre for Britain's general election in Bishopbriggs, Britain. Reuters

Official Monster Raving Loony Party candidate Baron Badger reacts next to Conservative Party candidate Dominic Raab, Liberal Democrats candidate Monica Harding and independent candidate Kylie Keens during the announcement of voting results for the constituency of Esher and Walton, at a counting centre for Britain's general election in Esher, Britain. Reuters

Brexit Party candidate Richard Tice is interviewed after Labour Party candidate Mike Hill is announced as the winner for the constituency of Hartlepool at a counting centre for Britain's general election in Hartlepool, Britain. Reuters

Supporters cheer after Labour Party candidate Mike Hill is announced as the winner for the constituency of Hartlepool at a counting centre for Britain's general election in Hartlepool, Britain. Reuters

Brexit Party members watch as ballots are tallied at a counting centre for Britain's general election in Hartlepool, Britain. Reuters

Ballots are tallied at a counting centre for Britain's general election at Royal Welsh Showground, Builth Wells, Britain. Reuters

Official Monster Raving Loony Party candidate Lady Lily the Pink is seen as ballots are tallied at a counting centre for Britain's general election at Royal Welsh Showground, Builth Wells, Britain. Reuters

Bill Blockhead, an independent candidate in the running for Bath's MP, and his wife Becky are seen outside a counting centre during Britain's general election, Bath, Britain. Reuters

Staff members count votes at a counting centre during Britain's general election, Bath, Britain. Reuters

Prime Minister Boris Johnson's Conservative Party has won a majority in the UK elections, allowing him to drive through his vision of Brexit.

Results from counting overnight showed the Tories had crossed the threshold of 326 of the 650 seats in the lower House of Commons, meaning they could not be beaten. Exit polls from Thursday's vote indicated they could win 368 seats.

Mr Johnson’s party saw its biggest win for a Conservative leader since Margaret Thatcher in 1987.

In a victory speech in central London, Mr Johnson promised to put the National Health Service at the forefront of his campaign, pledging to hire 50,000 new nurses and open 40 new hospitals across Britain.

He told voters who had switched from other parties to the Conservatives that he was “humbled” by their support, before adding “I or we will never take your support for granted”.

He said he would work “night and day” to repay the trust of voters.

Mr Johnson said he was determined to put an end to the “arguing about arguing” of Parliament about Brexit and “get Brexit done” by January 31.

US President Donald Trump congratulated his British counterpart for the election win. He said it paved the way for the two countries to strike a post-Brexit trade deal.

The opposition Labour Party is predicted to fall to its worst performance since 1935 with left-wing leader Jeremy Corbyn announcing he would not stand as leader at the next election.

“Corbyn was a disaster on the doorstep. Everyone knew that he couldn’t lead the working class out of a paper bag,” Former Labour cabinet minister Alan Johnson told ITV.

But at least he won his seat, unlike Jo Swinson - the leader of the anti-Brexit Liberal Democrats - in a calamitous night for those who still harboured hopes of remaining in the European Union.

The City welcomed the news of a likely thumping victory for the Conservatives, with the pound surging two per cent against the dollar, in recognition that the result will end three years of deadlock in a divided parliament following the 2016 referendum.

The scale of the victory emerged during the morning as the Conservatives won series of seats in the north of England, including former mining towns, that had long been Labour strongholds.

Labour losers included the party's Brexit spokeswoman, Jenny Chapman, who lost her northeast seat of Darlington.

Mr Johnson entered the election without a majority, having just 298 Tory MPs after some quit the party, and he withdrew the whip from others when they rebelled over Brexit.

The vote, dubbed the Brexit election, was called by Mr Johnson after he failed to get his plan for leaving the EU through Parliament.

He campaigned on a slogan of “Get Brexit Done” which appears to have resonated with a public wearied by the slow progress of quitting the EU.

The predicted result would clear the way for Mr Johnson to take Britain out of the bloc by January 31, 2020.

“Getting Brexit done is the priority," said Priti Patel, the Home Secretary. "The deal is there, it’s good to go.”

The opposition Labour Party had promised another referendum on Brexit during a campaign focused on nationalising key industries and taxing the ultra-rich.

The Conservatives have been leading the polls since Mr Johnson called the election in October, more than two years ahead of schedule.

It followed a disciplined campaign with Mr Johnson making few of the gaffes that have dogged his political career.

John McDonnell, Labour’s finance spokesman, said that the result suggested by the exit polls would be “extremely disappointing” and that the campaign had been dominated by people’s desire to get Brexit “over and done with because they have had enough”.

“People were frustrated – they wanted Brexit out of the way,” Mr McDonnell told the BBC. “Brexit frustration has broken through.”

Labour candidates took to Twitter to express their dismay at the poll result.

"There are very few words for how heartbroken I am for the community I represent, who have been through enough," said Jess Phillips, who represented a seat in Birmingham.

The result saw Conservative candidates win seats in traditional working-class areas that have been loyal to Labour for decades.

The poll also suggests that the leading anti-Brexit party, the Liberal Democrats, will win only 13 seats. Its leader, Jo Swinson, was facing a fight to keep her seat in the face of a strong challenge from the Scottish National Party (SNP).

The SNP which supports a split from the UK, is  set to perform strongly within, with a forecast 55 seats.

Scotland narrowly voted against independence in 2014 by 55 per cent to 45 per cent.

A senior minister, Michael Gove, said the strong showing for the SNP in Scotland did not mean that another referendum was inevitable.

The Brexit Party, led by Nigel Farage, was forecast not to win any seats after withdrawing many of its candidates to allow the pro-Brexit Conservatives a free run in some.

Mr Farage said that the election showed that the UK would get Brexit, but maybe not the right one.