MAY TO ‘ENTER NEGOTIATIONS’ WITH DUP ABOUT STRIKING A GOVERNMENT DEAL

Leon Neal / Getty

• The General Election produced a hung parliament after Tories lost seats nationwide.
• The Conservatives have 318 seats, with only one left to be declared, and therefore they cannot reach the 326 seats they need to form a majority government.
• Jeremy Corbyn’s Labour saw an extraordinary turnaround, and ended up with 261 seats.
• Prime Minister May went to Buckingham Palace to seek permission to form a minority government.
• Northern Ireland’s Democratic Unionist Party is set to support the Tories — but not in a formal coalition.
• UKIP leader Paul Nuttall resigns after his party’s vote collapses.

LONDON — It is a hung parliament. In one of the most remarkable election results Britain has ever seen, Prime Minister Theresa May’s Conservative party only managed to win 318 seats, eight seats short of a majority.

Jeremy Corbyn’s Labour Party gained 29 seats having initially been as far as 20% behind the Conservatives in opinion polls conducted just weeks before Thursday night’s election.

May has refused to resign as prime minister. She delivered a defiant speech outside 10 Downing Street earlier today, saying her newly-elected minority government will deliver a period of “stability” for Britain ahead of Brexit talks.

The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), a Northern Irish Party with 10 seats in Westminster, is set to back the Conservatives in an informal relationship — not a formal coalition government.

Scroll down for the latest developments as Britain comes to terms with a huge political shock.

15:25 — YOUTH TURNOUT SURPASSED ALL EXPECTATIONS

We don’t have an official figure on what the 18-24 turnout was in yesterday’s election, but the National Union of Students (NUS) has suggested it was around 72%. How does that compare to recent elections?

2005: 38%

2010: 52%

2015: 58%

2017: 72%

Generation Jez?

15:18 — BRITAIN IS IN A “VERY WEAK POSITION” IN BREXIT TALKS

“Britain is in a very weak position” heading into Brexit talks with the European Union, former European Commission economic adviser Phillipe Legrain just told the Sky News.

“The rest of Europe is laughing at us. They are crying at us, partly. They used to think we are pragmatic power but now we are a complete joke. Just read the continental papers.”

14:49 — DUP TO ENTER NEGOTIATIONS WITH CONSERVATIVES

DUP leader Arlene Foster just confirmed that she’ll soon “enter discussions” with the Conservative Party to “see how it may be possible to bring stability” to Britain.

Clodagh Kilcoyne/Reuters

14:41 — PROTEST TO TAKE PLACE IN WESTMINSTER AGAINST THE “BIGOT COALITION”

A protest is taking place outside Downing Street at 17:30 (BST) today against the prospect of a Tory minority government propped up by the DUP.

“Now is the time to tell Theresa May she has to do one. Get yourself and your mates down to Downing Street tonight and let her know we don’t want her anymore.

“Her Coalition of Chaos with the racist, sexist, homophobic, sectarian, DUP can’t stand. This government does not have our confidence.

“Let’s have a party and put her and her mates in the DUP in the bin.

“Make this election the naughtiest thing Theresa May has ever done.”

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14:30 — THE RETURN OF THE TWO-PARTY SYSTEM

One striking takeaway from last night’s election result was the domination of the Tories and Labour.

Britain’s two big political beats won 82.4% of the national vote, while every other UK party lost votes. Is this a beginning of a new era in British politics? Or a one off?

Sky News

14:01 — A LOOK AT THE FRONT PAGES

How have Britain’s biggest newspapers reacted to last night’s drama?

The Sun

The Daily Mail

Evening Standard

The Guardian

The Times

13:35 — WHAT DOES A WEAKENED TORY GOVERNMENT MEAN FOR BREXIT?

Even with the DUP’s help, Theresa May will only have a parliamentary majority of two. This means that the prime minister will likely need the support of Labour and the other opposition parties in order to get Brexit legislation through parliament — and that will not be easy, especially if remains intent on delivering a “hard” Brexit.

Will May continue with her “no deal is better than a bad deal” line?

What about the Single Market? And the Customs Union?

Labour MP Yvette Cooper raised this point posted earlier today.

13:27 — MAY’S DOWNING STREET SPEECH IN FULL

Here is the full version of what Prime Minister May said outside the steps of 10 Downing Street.

I have just been to see Her Majesty the Queen, and I will now form a government – a government that can provide certainty and lead Britain forward at this critical time for our country.

This government will guide the country through the crucial Brexit talks that begin in just 10 days, and deliver on the will of the British people by taking the United Kingdom out of the European Union.

It will work to keep our nation safe and secure by delivering the change that I set out following the appalling attacks in Manchester and London – cracking down on the ideology of Islamist extremism and all those who support it. And giving the police and the authorities the powers they need to keep our country safe.

The government I lead will put fairness and opportunity at the heart of everything we do, so that we fulfil the promise of Brexit together and – over the next 5 years – build a country in which no one and no community is left behind.

A country in which prosperity and opportunity are shared right across this United Kingdom.

What the country needs more than ever is certainty, and having secured the largest number of votes and the greatest number of seats in the general election, it is clear that only the Conservative & Unionist Party has the legitimacy and ability to provide that certainty by commanding a majority in the House of Commons.

As we do, we will continue to work with our friends and allies in the Democratic Unionist Party in particular. Our 2 parties have enjoyed a strong relationship over many years, and this gives me the confidence to believe that we will be able to work together in the interests of the whole United Kingdom.

This will allow us to come together as a country and channel our energies towards a successful Brexit deal that works for everyone in this country – securing a new partnership with the EU which guarantees our long-term prosperity.

That’s what people voted for last June.

That’s what we will deliver.

Now let’s get to work.

13:11 — A HAPPY-LOOKING CORBYN GOES FOR LUNCH IN HIS CONSTITUENCY

Labour leader Corbyn has had a beaming smile on his face all day after last night’s shock result.

Here is is going for lunch at a cafe in his north London constituency, Islington North, where he won with 40,086 votes.

12:55 — THERESA MAY: “LET’S GET ON WITH IT”

Speaking outside Number 10 Downing Street, May confirms that she will seek the support of her “friends and allies” in the DUP in order to deliver a period of “certainty” for Britain as it heads towards Brexit talks.

She insists “nothing has changed” and says “let’s get on with it” in a speech that sounds like one she would have given following a majority victory. The prime minister is defiant — but how long can it last?

BBC

12:50 — SO WHO ARE THE DUP?

Theresa May’s survival as prime minister is now at least partially in the hands of the Democratic Unionist Party — but who are they? And what do they stand for?

Here’s everything you need to know.

12:49 — MAY LEAVES BUCKINGHAM PALACE

The prime minister has just finished meeting with the Queen. She is set to make an official statement shortly.

Sky News

12:46 — TIM FARRON: “ARROGANT” MAY SHOULD RESIGN

Lib Dem leader Farron says “if she [May] has any self-respect she will resign”.

12:40 — “JEREMY WILL BE HERE UNTIL THE NEXT ELECTION”

That’s according to former London Mayor Ken Livingstone. Livingstone — a lifelong ally of Corbyn — says Labour’s performance in last night’s election means Corbyn will have the party’s confidence to take it into the next election.

Livingstone is currently suspended from Labour pending an investigation for alleged anti-Semitic remarks he made last year.

12:32 — A TERRIBLE NIGHT FOR THE TORIES

Theresa May lost every marginal seat she visited on the campaign trail, according to BBC Radio 4.

That is an astounding stat.

12:27 — THERESA MAY LEAVES DOWNING STREET

Prime Minister May and her husband Philip leave Downing Street and set off for Buckingham Palace.

Sky News

1225 — HERE IS A RECAP OF THE KEY NUMBERS IN THE GENERAL ELECTION

There is only one seat left to declare, Kensington, but here are the results:

Conservatives: 318 (seats), 13,650,900 (votes), 42.4% (vote share).

Labour: 261, 12,858,652, 40%.

SNP: 35, 977,569, 3%.

Liberal Democrats: 12, 2,367,048, 7.4%.

Green Party: 1, 524,604, 1.6%.

UKIP: 0, 593,852, 1.8%.

DUP: 10, 292,316, 0.9%