EXIT POLL SHOCK FOR TORIES
THERESA May’s gamble on a snap election looks set to cost her overall control of the House of Commons, according to an exit poll released after the June 8 general election.
The BBC/Sky/ITV poll suggested the UK was heading for a hung parliament, with Conservatives 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.
If borne out by the actual results, the poll figures would represent a humiliation for the Prime Minister, who went into the election with a small but viable majority and expectations that she should be able to secure an advantage of 100 seats or more in the House of Commons by going to the country early.
And it would be a personal triumph for Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, who was widely regarded as having run a successful campaign after being written off as unelectable by many observers and some in his own party.
It would also represent a significant setback for the SNP’s Nicola Sturgeon, whose party won a historic 56 out of 59 seats north of the border just two years ago.
And it could throw the UK’s politics into disarray as the parties scrabble to form a government, just 11 days before the expected start of Brexit negotiations in Brussels.
The poll suggests the Tories will lose 16 of the 330 seats they held at the end of the last Parliament, while Labour gains 37, the SNP loses 20 and the Liberal Democrats gain five.
However, even after 30,000 voters were questioned at 144 polling stations, there is always a possibility that the exit polls may be misleading.
In 2015, they significantly underestimated the Tory tally, putting David Cameron’s party on 316 when it finally emerged with 331.
The weather will have done nothing to boost turnout yesterday but that didn’t stop the majority of the British public from braving the elements to vote.
Meanwhile Conservative Party leader Theresa May headed to her polling station in Maidenhead with husband Philip and Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn cast his vote at a polling station at Pakeman Primary School in London.
Armed police were spotted at some polling stations in reaction
to the continued “severe” terror alert in the wake of recent attacks in London and Manchester.
And among those urging people to use their democratic right was London Bridge terror attack hero Geoff Ho.
The Sunday Express business editor was left in intensive care after deciding to “face the attackers down” when they burst into the Black & Blue restaurant at Borough Market on Saturday night.
Despite being stabbed in the neck by one of Islamic extremists, Mr Ho urged his Twitter followers to get out in vote in the election as he is unable to do his “civic duty” from his hospital bed.
Meanwhile, one of Britain’s top business leaders said the next government should put “people and trade ahead of politics” in Brexit negotiations.
Carolyn Fairburn, director-general of the CBI, said whoever wins the electin must make the UK “a true world leader in the industries of the future” and refocus the economy.
Reports have suggested that concern among businesses over Mrs May’s plans for Brexit, which would take the UK out of the European single market and aim to reduce net migration to below 100,000.
Mr Corbyn’s Labour, meanwhile, has pledged to reverse cuts to corporation tax and nationalise key industries.
Ms Fairburn said: “With the election nearly over, there has never been a more important time to refocus on the economy and plan with confidence and ambition.
“As a nation we have the creativity, skills, and global outlook to make the UK a true world leader in the industries of the future, bringing jobs and growth to all parts of the UK.
“UK forms will work with whoever forms the new government to make the most of this golden opportunity.
“As early priorities, business will want to see a commitment to tax and regulatory stability, fast progress on a modern industrial strategy to support skills, infrastructure and innovation, and a Brexit approach that puts people and trade ahead of politics.” Elsewhere the mood was lighter. In Northern Ireland two newlyweds ducked out of their own wedding to cast their vote. West Belfast hopeful Sorcha Eastwood was left speechless on April 18 when Mrs May called a snap election for her big day – but promised to make the two-minute trip from St Patrick’s Church in Lisburn to Brownlee Primary School to cast her ballot.