analysis

Strong? Stable? Ready to take on the rest of Europe?

Theresa May looked like none of these things when the 10pm bells of Big Ben chimed and the 2017 general election exit poll dropped.

If it proves correct, the Prime Minister’s authority will be massively undermined, perhaps even fatally.

She has run an awful campaign, characterised by U-turns, robotic and repetitive answers to any questions, and a refusal to take part in televised debates.

Now it looks like she is going to lose her parliamentary majority.

Even if she does return enough MPs to have control of the Commons, it will almost certainly be with a smaller lead than was left to her by David Cameron.

Ironically, what may well bolster her ranks, provided the exit poll is correct, is a vastly increased group of Scottish representatives, although Tories north of the border were being “cautious” about their chances and the predicted SNP collapse at the time of going to press.

So what happens if she loses seats in England and Ruth Davidson, whose campaign lost momentum when May’s started to stutter and splutter, picks up constituencies?

The Prime Minister is “toast”, according to one senior figure in the party.

It’s worth remembering she moved into Downing Street on July 11 last year.

After just 11 months in post, and with 11 days to go until Brexit negotiations start, her position is already being undermined.

It is looking like a disaster of the Conservative leader’s own making. What about Scotland? The prediction has the SNP falling dramatically, meaning it is certain to lose a whack of seats whatever happens in the marginal seats at cornflakes time.

Nicola Sturgeon’s party will be the largest and, if parliament is hung, then she could yet be the king or queen maker.

Her party has also won the election in Scotland, no matter what.

And yet, if there are significant losses, particularly to a Conservative Party she has so often demonised, it will show her negative campaign also failed.

It looks like it may be a bad night for parties of government.