If this exit poll is true, Labour moderates’ hopes of rescuing their party from the clutches of the hard Left have been dealt a potentially fatal blow.

Indeed, if actual results even vaguely replicate the poll, it is inconceivable that Jeremy Corbyn would come under any pressure whatever to step aside, given that he would have led his party to a significant increase in number of seats, as well as share of the vote, since the 2015 general election. He would be hailed as the victor of the 2017 general election, just as Theresa May would be seen as the loser – an extraordinary quashing of just about every assumption that was made about his leadership from the moment it was born in 2015.</s>Jeremy Corbyn may be about to become prime minister.

The exit poll has shown a hung parliament. But the results are so close that if it is correct, the question of who forms a government will be decided in negotiations.

The BBC/Sky/ITV poll suggested the Conservatives will be 12 seats short of the 326 they need for an absolute majority in the Commons.

The poll put Tories on 314 seats, with Labour on 266, the Scottish National Party on 34, Liberal Democrats on 14, Plaid Cymru on three and Greens on one.

The most likely scenario that sees Mr Corbyn enter Number 10 will be as the head of a progressive alliance, including the Liberal Democrats, the SNP and other small parties. Labour has refused to discuss that possibility, but Mr Corbyn has suggested that such an arrangement would be possible.

If he could bring together his own party alongside the SNP, the Lib Dems, Plaid Cymru and the Greens, he would have 318 seats according to the exit poll. But if those parties took just a few more seats from the Tories, they would reach 326 and be able to form a government with a working majority.

The exit poll show that neither Labour or the Conservatives could form a government on their own. But if all of the other parties banded together – that would include the Greens and other small parties – then they would be able to gather a working majority and form a government.

Such an arrangement would be decided in private and between the parties, after the results become clear. But discussions are likely to have already begun behind the scenes.

Some parties including the Lib Dems have suggested that they wouldn't join a coalition with Labour. But they had suggested before 2010 that they wouldn't go into government with the Conservatives, before joining a government with them.</s>"Theresa On the Ropes" was just one of the headlines Brits woke up to this morning, as Prime Minister Theresa May lost her gamble and working majority at Westminster after calling a snap election that delivered a hung Parliament.

Her decision to go the polls three years early is being called one of the biggest missteps in recent political history, with May's critics accusing her of putting partisan political greed ahead of the good of the country.

As the results flowed in from yesterday's vote, May's Conservatives were predicted to win 318 seats, short of the 326 needed for an outright majority and down by 13. The Opposition Labour Party was up by 29 seats for a total of 261.

"This is a remarkable election result," said political science lecturer Tim Travers of the London School of Economics. "I mean, the U.K. is someway getting used to remarkable results. This tells us the electorate is quite volatile."

"I am quite frankly amazed," said Tim Bale, a politics professor at Queen Mary University. "I was pretty convinced that Theresa May and the Conservative Party would be returned with a slightly increased if not much more comfortable majority."

There have already been calls for May to step down, both from inside and outside her party. But speaking at her Maidenhead constituency as results were coming in, she seemed to indicate she will stay on.

"At this time more than anything else this country needs a period of stability," she said after being returned as MP.

"And if as the indications have shown, if this is correct that the Conservative Party has won the most seats and probably the most votes, then it will be incumbent on us to ensure that we have that period of stability, and that is exactly what we will do."

Britain is due to begin exit negotiations with the European Union in just a little over a week. When May called the election, she said it was so that she could enter those negotiations with a strong mandate.

Just what mandate she can take from this election result remains unclear, with her party now in turmoil. There is already debate over whether May should have pushed for a so-called "hard Brexit," insisting that no deal was better than a bad deal.

Internal discussions will be tortured, a continuation of the drama between pro and anti-EU forces within the Conservative Party that led to the referendum in the first place.

Britain voted in a narrow result last June to leave the European Union in a national referendum, splitting the country and leaving many with a bitter aftertaste.

Most analysts agree that the general election results in some parts of the country, particularly in its urban centres, reflect what's being called the "revenge of the remain voters."

That sector of the electorate has also been uneasy seeing the government out of step with European partners such as France and Germany, which are seen as taking a harder line with the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump on issues such as climate change.

"There are results in London that only make sense if you add a remain revenge vote into it in effect," said Travers.

"I think that has something to do with it, particularly when you look at young people," agreed Bale, calling the turnout among 18- to 24-year-olds unprecedented.

"I think it does also have quite a lot to do with their anger over Brexit."

It's also a reflection of Opposition Leader Jeremy Corbyn's popularity amongst young people, his strategists pushing comparisons with Bernie Sanders, the former U.S. Democratic candidate.

For Corbyn, the results are tantamount to a Lazarus-like resurrection, a personal victory. Corbyn was written off not only by the mainstream media, but by 172 of his own parliamentary MPs who supported a no-confidence vote against him in June last year.

Even though Labour lost the election, Corbyn's supporters say it vindicates their leader and their support for him. It will certainly insulate him from attempts to remove him, according to the analysts.

"Jeremy Corbyn has massively increased Labour's vote share in an almost unprecedented way actually, if you look back over the post-war period," said Bale.

"I have watched and listened to some wonderfully tortured senior Labour figures being confronted by the things they have said about Jeremy Corbyn's un-electability," said Travers.
• Labour leader turns it around with big crowds, higher polling

Corbyn campaigned on a slogan of "For the many, not the few," and capitalized on the grassroots support that won him the Labour leadership in the first place.

May's campaign's slogan of "strong and capable leadership" failed to connect with people on the doorstep, according to Tom Clarkson of the research firm WorldThinks.

"They think she lacks warmth," he said in an interview just before the vote, whereas Corbyn came across as someone who "doesn't just follow the political breeze."

Conservative policies calling for means testing for the elderly before they are eligible for home care and for a reinstatement of fox hunting also damaged May, according to Clarkson's research.

One of the big losers of the night was the Scottish National Party, which dropped 21 seats. including two of its best-known advocates for an independent Scotland.

The deputy SNP leader, Angus Robertson, was defeated, as was former leader Alex Salmond.

The leader of the Scottish Conservatives, Ruth Davidson, is being credited with a strong showing north of the border, tapping into unease over talk of another independence referendum.

The SNP will still be the third largest party in Parliament, and therefore a part of whatever tortured machinations are still to come in the days ahead as the dust settles.

If May tries to form a coalition to get her over the 326 threshold needed to pass legislation in Parliament, she's expected to target the Democratic Unionist Party, which won 10 seats.

Sinn Fein also made gains at seven seats, but is not expected to take its seats given that it does not recognize the jurisdiction of Westminster.

That makes May's numbers game a little easier. But there are difficult days ahead on all sides with this result. And most Brits today will be feeling like they may well be facing another election in the not too distant future.</s>On Thursday night, Labour supporters all over the U.K. were celebrating the election results, including, of course, party leader Jeremy Corbyn. Over the course of the election, he became a potent symbol of what a potential alternative government could look like. He energized young voters. He stoked enthusiasm in the left across the world. And he is amazingly terrible at high-fives.

While posing with fellow Labour political Emily Thornberry, Jezza went in for a high five that she apparently didn’t know was coming – and so his hand landed directly on her breast, which ultimately makes for a quintessential British awkwardness.</s>Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has insisted 'I can still be Prime Minister' as he vowed to fight Theresa May's attempt to run a minority government 'all the way'.

Labour won 262 seats in the General Election, up from the 232 secured by Ed Miliband in 2015, but the Conservatives remain the largest party in Parliament.

Mr Corbyn believes that without an outright majority, Mrs May's position is vulnerable and he intends to oppose the Queen's Speech in an attempt to bring down her administration.

He told the Sunday Mirror: 'I can still be Prime Minister. This is still on. Absolutely.

'Theresa May has been to the palace. She's now attempting to form a government. She's then got to present a programme to Parliament.

'There's a possibility of voting the Queen's Speech down and we're going to push that all the way. We have got a mandate to deal with issues of poverty, justice and inequality in Britain.

'We want to end austerity and invest in this country and that's what we're going to do. Nearly 13 million people voted for us to do it. That's why I'm here.'

Mrs May is seeking to rely on the Democratic Unionist Party's 10 MPs to win key votes in Parliament.

But Mr Corbyn said: 'I don't think Theresa May and this government have any credibility.

'The Prime Minister called this election on the basis she would need a stronger mandate to negotiate Brexit.

'Well look what's happened. The parallels are with 1974. The Conservatives sought, as they have done this time, a "who governs Britain?" mandate.

'Ted Heath lost and tried to form another government and tried to get another majority in Parliament. And eventually Harold Wilson managed to form a government. She's taking us back to those times. It's back to the 70s with Theresa May.'

The Labour leader, who survived an attempt to oust him by his own MPs before the election, now expects that he will be able to attract some of the party's biggest names to serve on his front bench.

'My phone is full of texts from lots and lots of people from right across the party,' he said.

'I'm very happy about that. I'm very proud to lead this party. And I'm open to everyone. It's important to make that clear.'</s>On Thursday night, Labour supporters all over the U.K. were celebrating the election results, including, of course, party leader Jeremy Corbyn. Over the course of the election, he became a potent symbol of what a potential alternative government could look like. He energized young voters. He stoked enthusiasm in the left across the world. And he is amazingly terrible at high fives.

While posing with fellow Labour politician Emily Thornberry, Jezza went in for a high five that she apparently didn’t know was coming — and so his hand landed directly on her breast, which ultimately makes for a moment of quintessential British awkwardness.</s>Theresa May's Conservative party lost its majority in the British Parliament, ceding big gains to Jeremy Corbyn's Labour party, according to an exit poll Thursday night.

Conservatives remain the largest party in Parliament, but the British pound dropped sharply immediately after the poll results were released.

With no overall majority, the Conservatives would not be able to overrule the combined weight of other parties. That throws the Brexit situation into disarray and this is the state of sterling.

 

The pound has hit a low of 1.2704 against dollar lowest level since April 18th when the sterling traded as low as 1.2513 against the dollar.

The Conservatives would have 314 seats, Labour 266, Liberal Democrats 14, Scottish National Party 34 and other 22.

On April 18, May surprised onlookers by calling Thursday's snap election stating that "division risks the ability to make a success of Brexit."

At that the Conservative ruling government was polling as much as 22 points clear of the main opposition Labour party led by Jeremy Corbyn. However, as the campaign progressed the polls narrowed sharply.

Polling stations opened at 7:00 a.m. London time Thursday and closed at 10:00 p.m. The main flurry of results expected from 2.00 a.m. London time on Friday and there are 650 constituencies due to announce.

The Conservative campaign has attempted to focus on the withdrawal from the EU, repeating a mantra that only it can offer a "strong and stable" government as negotiations with Brussels heat up. This strategy has worked to an extent with polls on leadership consistently backing May over Corbyn as a more trusted leader.

Labour's Jeremy Corbyn has said he will honor Brexit but at the same time attempt to retain the benefits of the single market - a trading bloc for members of the European Union.</s>Labour is facing a fresh bout of civil war even though Jeremy Corbyn surprised observers with his success in getting his party’s message across.

His critics on the Commons benches had insisted he should step down however the party fared in the election.

Labour racked up 30.4 per cent of the vote in 2015 – and polls right up to yesterday indicated the party could be on track to top that this time.

In 1987, Neil Kinnock also fought a highly-regarded campaign and did not resign after handing Margaret Thatcher a three-figure majority.

Last month one pro-Corbyn source said: ‘There is a tradition of Labour leaders staying on after elections. Kinnock didn’t resign in ’87, Callaghan didn’t in ’79.’

But only last year, Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell said he and Mr Corbyn would definitely have to go if they lost an election. ‘That would be inevitable,’ he told BBC1’s Andrew Marr Show.

Critics of the hard-Left Labour leader point out that his predecessors – including Gordon Brown, Ed Miliband and Michael Foot – did resign after defeats. And James Callaghan was gone within the year.

However, it was unclear what form any opposition to Mr Corbyn would take if he refused to step aside, as critics are divided as to the best course.

Blairites had been plotting the formation of a new centre party if he clung on, perhaps in alliance with the Liberal Democrats.

But that idea may be put on the back burner given Labour’s successful campaign.

Mr Corbyn could still face a fresh leadership challenge, perhaps from a senior figure from the old regime such as Yvette Cooper or Chuka Umunna. Any challenger would need to get the names of 20 per cent of Labour MPs and MEPs to be able to stand against Mr Corbyn and force a leadership battle.

He would automatically get his name on the ballot paper, and the party membership would get their chance to vote.

But the 68-year-old could decide to stand aside in the hope of passing on the baton to a hard-left acolyte.

If he does this, there would be an open contest and candidates would need to get the votes of 15 per cent of MPs and MEPs before going forward to the membership. This threshold would make it hard for a left-wing candidate to get past the first hurdle.

It is for this reason that Corbyn supporters are urging him to hang on to make certain a hard-Left candidate – himself – is put forward to the membership.

Former shadow home secretary Miss Cooper stood in the 2015 Labour leadership contest, coming third to Mr Corbyn. The other candidates were centrist Liz Kendall and Andy Burnham, who has since left the Commons to become Greater Manchester’s mayor.

Mr Umunna, Labour’s former business spokesman, originally said he was going to stand but pulled out within a few days.

But there is the chance that if Mr Corbyn stays on, arguing he has fought a successful campaign, support for a leadership challenge at this juncture could fade away.

Some senior figures are counselling that any leadership challenge should be put off for a year.

There is also the chance that former shadow ministers who vacated the frontbench after Mr Corbyn took office could return.

Many of his union allies, such as Unite’s Len McCluskey, have vowed to stick by him. But the support of more moderate unions may depend on last night’s result.

Mr Corbyn voted early yesterday at Pakeman Primary School in Holloway, North London. As he emerged from the polling station, he told reporters gathered outside: ‘I’m very proud of our campaign.’</s>LONDON — Polling stations were open across Britain Thursday in an election dominated by looming Brexit negotiations and recent deadly terror attacks.

Prime Minister Theresa May called the snap election in the hope of increasing her Conservative Party's majority in Parliament, strengthening her hand in European Union exit talks.

She had been expected to win comfortably, but a faltering campaign has reduced her poll lead over the left-wing Labour Party.

Polling stations close at 10 p.m. local time (5 p.m. ET) as voters choose 650 lawmakers for the House of Commons.

May says she will build a "stronger, fairer and more prosperous Britain," while Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn says he would govern "for the many, not the few."

Related: Britain Heads to Ballot Box in Shadow of Brexit

In Scotland, the nationalist Scottish National Party was defending its dominant position from recent gains by Conservatives.</s>JEREMY Corbyn would have been the next Prime Minister if it wasn’t for Scottish votes, says a major UK news outlet.

According to an article by the London Evening Standard, the Labour leader was thwarted in his attempt to become Prime Minister by the strong performance of the Conservative Party in Scotland.

May secured a return to Number 10 despite a dire election night which saw her party’s presence in Westminster drop from 331 seats to 318, with the number of Labour MPs increasing by 32 seats to 262.

This result means the Conservatives failed to win a majority and are now looking to broker a controversial deal with Northern Ireland’s Democratic Unionist Party in order to gain enough seats.

READ MORE: Sturgeon would explore ‘progressive alliance’ with Labour

Published earlier today by the London Evening Standard, a newspaper edited by former Tory chancellor George Osborne, the article argues that without the 14 seats secured by the Conservative Party in Scotland, Theresa May would not have been in a strong enough position to form a government at all.

In the 2015 General Election the Scottish National Party won an incredible 56 out of 59 available seats in Scotland, but a reversal of fortunes on Thursday night saw that whittled down to 35 with the Conservative Party benefitting the most.

Former SNP leader Alex Salmond and the party’s Westminster leader Angus Robertson were among the high profile casualties as the party dropped from 50 per cent of the popular vote to 37 per cent.

If not for the extra seats won by Scottish Tories, the Labour Party could have formed a coalition and would now be in control of Westminster, according to the Evening Standard:

“Without the 14 seats won by the Scottish Conservatives, Mrs May’s party would have been languishing on just 305 seats.

“Labour, the Liberal Democrats and the SNP, who are likely to have mopped up the votes between them, would have outnumbered the Tories and are likely to have defeated the PM in a Queen’s Speech vote, paving the way for a coalition led by Mr Corbyn.”

However, just three weeks ago Corbyn had insisted that in the event of a hung parliament he would not do a deal with the SNP to gain power at Westminster.

Speaking on 29 May, Mr Corbyn said: “There will be no deals. There will be no alliance. We’re fighting this election to win.

READ MORE: Corbyn rules out deal with SNP

“Only Labour or the Tories can win this election and voting Labour is the only way to remove Theresa May from office and build a Scotland for the many, not the few.”

SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon had previously claimed that she would be in favour of a ‘progressive alliance’ with Labour.
Significant gains are made by the opposition Labour Party led by Jeremy Corbyn, while the Scottish National Party's dominance of Scottish seats is reduced.