Voters in the United Kingdom have rejected conservative rule while absolutely annihilating the far-right UK Independence Party.
The surprise loss for the Conservative Party’s sitting Prime Minister, Teresa May, came after a year full of upheaval for the Brits — first with the country’s Brexit referendum last summer, then former PM David Cameron’s resignation that led to May becoming sitting PM.
The Tories have just officially lost their majority. #GE2017
— Lewis Goodall (@lewis_goodall) June 9, 2017
With not all districts declared, Prime Minister May lacks the results necessary to form another Tory majority government. The party of Margaret Thatcher, Tories are similar to country club Republicans in America.
It's official: #HungParliament for UK. No party can win a majorityhttps://t.co/jpy6wsvCIX#GE2017 #BBCelection pic.twitter.com/PkhA8es9df
— BBC Breaking News (@BBCBreaking) June 9, 2017
In April, May called for the “snap election” to decide which party would lead the country’s exit from the European Union, and while the voters have spoken, which coalition will choose the next Prime Minister remains very much in doubt.
Sources close to May have claimed that she will not resign, but there has yet to be any official statement on the Prime Minister’s plans.
Nationalist UK Independence Party Annihilated
“The party’s vote share was down to around 2%, whereas in 2015 under its former leader Nigel Farage it secured 12.6% of the national vote,” The Guardian reported.
“In Ukip’s only Commons seat, Clacton in Essex, the party slumped from a vote of 19,642 in 2015 for Douglas Carswell, to just 3,347 for Paul Oakley, the candidate that replaced him after he quit the party,” The Guardian noted.
Shortly after the polls closed, UKIP Leader Paul Nattall said that Brexit is now in jeopardy:
If the exit poll is true then Theresa May has put Brexit in jeopardy. I said at the start this election was wrong. Hubris.
— Paul Nuttall (@paulnuttallukip) June 8, 2017
Big Win for Labour
Despite press criticism that Labour Leader Jeremy Corbyn was too progressive, the results showed Labour to be the biggest winner of the evening.
With the final outcome not yet know, Leader Corbyn has claimed more seats than his immediate predecessors Ed Milliband and Gordon Brown.
We have had enough. We demand a fairer society, #ForTheMany, not the few. Please watch and RT this powerful film by Ken Loach. #WeDemand pic.twitter.com/QpzfUK2HNB
— Jeremy Corbyn (@jeremycorbyn) June 2, 2017
It is too soon to predict if Labour will be able to form a minority government, but Corbyn’s results were impressive:
Jeremy Corbyn on course to outperform Labour's vote share in 70, 74, 79, 83, 87, 92, 2001, 2005, 2010, 2015. A triumph. #GE2017
— Luke Savage (@LukewSavage) June 9, 2017
Corbyn has already called for the resignation of Prime Minister May.
The moment Jeremy Corbyn called for Theresa May to resignhttps://t.co/YMVJP13SGk#GE2017 #BBCelection pic.twitter.com/yZQ6r8IJgp
— BBC News (UK) (@BBCNews) June 9, 2017
Though it may be some time before all the implications are known.
For anyone just waking up, you're best going back to bed for a few weeks while we sort this out…#GE2017
— Larry the Cat (@Number10cat) June 9, 2017
United States President Donald Trump may have also influenced the election.
Hearing from a Labour friend that Donald's nasty attacks on the Mayor of London hurt the Tories in the closing days.
— Simon Rosenberg (@SimonWDC) June 9, 2017
One of the other major takeaways is what appears to be a surge in youth turnout.
In 2015, Miliband won the youth vote by 15 points.
In 2016, Clinton won it by 18 points.Tonight's exit poll: Corbyn won it by 44 points
— Jeff Stein (@JStein_Vox) June 9, 2017
Early reports suggest that 72% of 18-24s voted. Some people are surprised. We are not. #GenerationVote
— Malia Bouattia (@MaliaBouattia) June 9, 2017
Watch live:
— Twitter Government (@TwitterGov) May 31, 2017
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