British Prime Minister Theresa May’s bet that she could strengthen her grip on power by calling an early election backfired spectacularly on Friday, with her Conservative Party losing its parliamentary majority and May facing calls to resign.
Labour’s victory in Southampton Test means it is now mathematically impossible for any party to get enough seats to reach a majority.
Labour has done better than expected and although the Conservatives are predicted to be the biggest party, they would fall short of the 326 seats needed for a majority, according to the forecast.
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn urged her to resign, but she said her party would “ensure” stability in the UK, the BBC reports.
“At this time more than anything else, this country needs a period of stability,” Mrs May said.
“And if, as the indications have shown and if this is correct that the Conservative Party has won the most seats and probably the most votes, then it will be incumbent on us to ensure we have that period of stability – and that is exactly what we will do.”
Mr Corbyn earlier said: “If there is a message from tonight’s results, it’s this: the prime minister called this election because she wanted a mandate. Well, the mandate she’s got is lost Conservative seats, lost votes, lost support and lost confidence.”
“I would have thought that’s enough to go, and make way for a government that will be truly representative of all of the people of this country,” he added.
With more than 600 seats now declared, the Tories are projected to get 316 seats, Labour 265, the SNP 34 and the Lib Dems 13.
