Johnson hails ‘smashing roadblock’

BORIS Johnson declared that his party had “smashed the roadblock” and “ended the gridlock” as he hailed the biggest Tory majority since the 1980s.

The prime minister vowed to unite the country, spread opportunity and “get Brexit done” after his snap general election gamble paid off and he romped home with an estimated majority of 78.

In a victory speech in central London, Mr Johnson said: “We did it – we pulled it off, didn’t we. We broke the gridlock, we ended the deadlock, we smashed the roadblock.”

He added: “In winning this election, we have won votes and the trust of people who have never voted Conservative before and people have always voted for other parties. Those people want change. We cannot, must not, must not, let them down.”

The Tory landslide prompted Jeremy Corbyn to announce that he will not lead Labour into another election after his party suffered humiliation across the country.

Liberal Democrat leader Jo Swinson lost her seat to the SNP and quit as party leader. Sir Ed Davey and Baroness Sal Brinton will become joint acting leaders ahead of a leadership contest next year.

But the success of the Scottish nationalists and of nationalist parties in Northern Ireland could provide Mr Johnson with another challenge on top of Brexit as it suggests opposition to leaving the EU is hardening there.

The PM was expected to see the Queen at Buckingham Palace later today to be invited to form a government.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon celebrated a surge in support for the SNP as she insisted Boris Johnson’s mandate now does not run to Scotland.