UK POLL TURMOIL
PRIME Minister Theresa May has been forced into a minority government with a littleknown party from Northern Ireland after her early-election gamble spectacularly backfired.
Britain’s voters punished Mrs May at the ballot box after she took them to the polls three years early, stripping her of majority government and lumbering the country with a hung parliament, days before Brexit negotiations start.
As counting continued in one final seat in the general election last night, shell-shocked Conservatives had fallen well short of a majority, securing only 318 seats.
Far from the Tory landslide strategists were anticipating, Mrs May presided over a loss of 12 seats, while the Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn, defied internal and external critics to finish with 261, a gain of 29 seats.
With her leadership under severe strain and an air of chaos pervading Downing Street, Mrs May and her hus- band Philip headed to Buckingham Palace last night where Mrs May sought Queen Elizabeth’s approval to form a minority government.
She emerged 20 minutes later to confirm she would form a minority government with the Democratic Unionist Party, which won 10 seats in Northern Ireland and whose votes guaranteeing confidence and supply will get Mrs May over the majority benchmark of 326 seats in the 650-seat House of Commons.
“I will now form a government, a government that can provide certainty and lead Britain forward at this critical time for our country,’’ a grimfaced Mrs May said.
“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.
“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 only the Conservative and 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 Unionist Party in particular.’’
Mrs May said the new government would deliver on her anti-terrorism pledges, and get the best deal on Brexit over the next five years.
“That’s what people voted for last June. That’s what we will deliver. Now let’s get to work.’’
Mrs May spent the night resisting pressure to stand aside, arguing it would delay Brexit negotiations, and that the country needed stability.
The pound plunged on the election result against the US dollar and the euro.
While her future may be secure in the short term, it is not guaranteed in the medium or long term.
She is expected to appoint a Cabinet overnight.
Mr Corbyn arrived at the count in his constituency of Islington North to rapturous applause from supporters, and called for Mrs May to resign.
A high voter turnout of particularly younger voters boosted the Labour campaign.