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| A night of electric shock that left Theresa May in the glare | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| At 10pm on Thursday, an exit poll sent a late-night jolt through the political establishment and the country alike. By the early hours of Friday morning, the aftermath of the shock was still being felt, as the results began to confirm that Theresa May had had a disastrous night. | At 10pm on Thursday, an exit poll sent a late-night jolt through the political establishment and the country alike. By the early hours of Friday morning, the aftermath of the shock was still being felt, as the results began to confirm that Theresa May had had a disastrous night. |
| After weeks of mainly lacklustre campaigning, the first serious indication of what the result could be was an electrifying moment that had broadcasters scrambling to rewrite their scripts. They had a new and confounding storyline to attempt to make sense of: May’s snap election gamble had failed to grant her the authority she said she desperately needed. | After weeks of mainly lacklustre campaigning, the first serious indication of what the result could be was an electrifying moment that had broadcasters scrambling to rewrite their scripts. They had a new and confounding storyline to attempt to make sense of: May’s snap election gamble had failed to grant her the authority she said she desperately needed. |
| With the Conservatives estimated to win 314 seats, down 17 and 12 short of a majority, and Labour at 266, up 34, with the SNP on 34 and the Liberal Democrats on 14, it was set to be a long night for both main parties. | With the Conservatives estimated to win 314 seats, down 17 and 12 short of a majority, and Labour at 266, up 34, with the SNP on 34 and the Liberal Democrats on 14, it was set to be a long night for both main parties. |
| Suddenly, the talk that had all been of the scale of Theresa May’s majority turned to coalitions and hung parliaments. | Suddenly, the talk that had all been of the scale of Theresa May’s majority turned to coalitions and hung parliaments. |
| It was after 3am that May came into view. Tight-faced, dramatic make-up failing to disguise the strain, she delivered her acceptance speech at the Maidenhead count, looking anything but victorious. Hopes of an increased majority were over, the priority was stability, she said. Her message, now, was that if the Conservatives did win the most seats and the most votes “it will be incumbent on us to ensure that we have that period of stability, and that is what we will do”. | |
| Labour’s Jeremy Corbyn had arrived at his count beaming broadly, with a thumbs-up, and the body language of a man who knows he is unassailable as party leader. May, he said, had 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, actually, and make way for a government that will be truly representative of all of the people of this country.” | |
| As the night wore on, expectations for both parties waxed and waned, with the accuracy of the exit poll called into question and then endorsed again by each new result. But however the picture changed, it still looked bleak for the prime minister. | As the night wore on, expectations for both parties waxed and waned, with the accuracy of the exit poll called into question and then endorsed again by each new result. But however the picture changed, it still looked bleak for the prime minister. |
| Even members of her party suggested the “Snowdonia moment” that had led her to call an election three years ahead of schedule, in search of certainty and stability, could be backfiring spectacularly, leaving her with neither. And with that came immediate speculation over how long, or even if, May could survive as party leader. | Even members of her party suggested the “Snowdonia moment” that had led her to call an election three years ahead of schedule, in search of certainty and stability, could be backfiring spectacularly, leaving her with neither. And with that came immediate speculation over how long, or even if, May could survive as party leader. |
| Before May or Corbyn broke cover, the startled rabbits-in-headlights served up for public consumption were the defence secretary, Michael Fallon, and the shadow chancellor, John McDonnell, who were hearing the poll results perched on the BBC’s election sofa. | |
| Both were cautious, naturally, given the recent history of polling. “Let’s wait and see,” said Fallon who, if rattled, was putting on a good show. Poll results had been wrong in the past and not a single vote had yet been counted, he said. | |
| McDonnell, too, initially urged caution. “We have to have some scepticism about all polls at the moment,” he said. But as the figures began sinking in, an irrepressible hopefulness seemed to engulf him. | McDonnell, too, initially urged caution. “We have to have some scepticism about all polls at the moment,” he said. But as the figures began sinking in, an irrepressible hopefulness seemed to engulf him. |
| People had seen through May, he enthused, and realised that the election had been called for party advantage rather than the interests of the country. “People saw this as pure opportunism and it looks as though they have rejected it. Even if the result is anywhere near, this is a catastrophic error,” he added, with no little measure of glee. | People had seen through May, he enthused, and realised that the election had been called for party advantage rather than the interests of the country. “People saw this as pure opportunism and it looks as though they have rejected it. Even if the result is anywhere near, this is a catastrophic error,” he added, with no little measure of glee. |
| By this stage, not a single result had been declared. The BBC, ITV and Sky, which together commissioned the exit poll, were still in danger of being left with egg on their faces. Political commentators were astounded. Their sources equally so. Unbelievable, seemed to be the general consensus. | By this stage, not a single result had been declared. The BBC, ITV and Sky, which together commissioned the exit poll, were still in danger of being left with egg on their faces. Political commentators were astounded. Their sources equally so. Unbelievable, seemed to be the general consensus. |
| Over on the ITV election sofa, an excitable Ed Balls, the former shadow chancellor turned Strictly Come Dancing superstar, was seizing the moment to make a bold punt. “If this is correct, we’ll have another general election soon,” he said. | Over on the ITV election sofa, an excitable Ed Balls, the former shadow chancellor turned Strictly Come Dancing superstar, was seizing the moment to make a bold punt. “If this is correct, we’ll have another general election soon,” he said. |
| Sitting alongside him , George Osborne, the former chancellor turned newspaper editor, was predicting that if the poll were correct, at the very least May could have to resign. “Clearly if she’s got a worse result than two years ago and is almost unable to form a government then she, I doubt, will survive in the long term as Conservative party leader.” Did he relish her discomfort? Was he, perhaps, now regretting his decision to quit as an MP? | Sitting alongside him , George Osborne, the former chancellor turned newspaper editor, was predicting that if the poll were correct, at the very least May could have to resign. “Clearly if she’s got a worse result than two years ago and is almost unable to form a government then she, I doubt, will survive in the long term as Conservative party leader.” Did he relish her discomfort? Was he, perhaps, now regretting his decision to quit as an MP? |
| Meanwhile, the former Lib Dem leader Sir Menzies Campbell was reminding everyone that “Tim Farron made it very clear: no pact, no deal, no coalition.” The Democratic Unionist party’s Sir Jeffrey Donaldson was contemplating the prospect of his party becoming serious players in a hung parliament, lending support to the Tories. | |
| Three hours after the poll, Corbyn issued a statement saying: “Whatever the final result, we have already changed the face of British politics.” Within minutes, Labour took its first Scottish seat from the Scottish National party: Rutherglen and Hamilton West. | |
| Labour’s deputy leader, Tom Watson, had speculated that the foreign secretary, Boris Johnson, would be “sharpening his knife” for a leadership challenge. Johnson arrived at his count in Uxbridge and South Ruislip saying that it was “early days”. | |
| Labour’s gains included the symbolic toppling in Ipswich of Ben Gummer, the author of the Conservative manifesto. Another scalp was former deputy prime minister Nick Clegg, who looked visibly upset at losing the Sheffield Hallam seat he had held for the Lib Dems since 2005. Within moments, Vince Cable regained Twickenham for the Lib Dems, while the party’s leader, Tim Farron, clung on to his Westmorland and Lonsdale seat with a majority of less than 1,000. | Labour’s gains included the symbolic toppling in Ipswich of Ben Gummer, the author of the Conservative manifesto. Another scalp was former deputy prime minister Nick Clegg, who looked visibly upset at losing the Sheffield Hallam seat he had held for the Lib Dems since 2005. Within moments, Vince Cable regained Twickenham for the Lib Dems, while the party’s leader, Tim Farron, clung on to his Westmorland and Lonsdale seat with a majority of less than 1,000. |
| The home secretary, Amber Rudd, survived, just, though Hastings and Rye went to recount before she could be confirmed. | |
| Other big losers included Alex Salmond, the former SNP leader and first minister, who saw his Gordon seat taken by the Conservatives, bringing the curtain down on a 30-year-long career in Westminster and Holyrood. The public had not seen the last of him, he said. The SNP’s Westminster leader, Angus Robertson, who lost Moray to the Conservative Douglas Ross, was also among the party’s significant casualties. | |
| It had, concluded the Conservative Anna Soubry, who retained Broxtowe by a very slim majority, been “a dreadful night” and a “dreadful campaign”. Should May resign? “It’s a matter for her … it’s bad,” she told Dimbleby. | |
| The Match of the Day presenter Gary Lineker provided a succinct summary on Twitter. | The Match of the Day presenter Gary Lineker provided a succinct summary on Twitter. |
| I think Theresa May has won own goal of the season. | I think Theresa May has won own goal of the season. |
| The Sun, which backed the Tories, was even more direct, putting the headline “Theresa Dismay” on its front page. | |
| After five seats had been declared, the shadow foreign secretary, Emily Thornberry, was daring to dream. “We could form the next government,” she said. “How?” asked the BBC’s David Dimbleby, with the exit poll putting Labour 50 seats behind in mind. Thornberry suggested Labour could ask other parties on a vote by vote basis, with no coalition, no deals – a minority government. He replied: “So, not a coalition of chaos, just chaos?” | After five seats had been declared, the shadow foreign secretary, Emily Thornberry, was daring to dream. “We could form the next government,” she said. “How?” asked the BBC’s David Dimbleby, with the exit poll putting Labour 50 seats behind in mind. Thornberry suggested Labour could ask other parties on a vote by vote basis, with no coalition, no deals – a minority government. He replied: “So, not a coalition of chaos, just chaos?” |
| Liam Fox, the international trade secretary, said the early voting results and exit poll showed two-party politics was back. Labour’s Clive Lewis said they suggested May’s Brexit negotiations, due to start in 10 days, would be “a complete clusterfuck”. | Liam Fox, the international trade secretary, said the early voting results and exit poll showed two-party politics was back. Labour’s Clive Lewis said they suggested May’s Brexit negotiations, due to start in 10 days, would be “a complete clusterfuck”. |
| In the first upset of the night, Newcastle stole the crown for fastest election count from its neighbour and rival Sunderland, which for 25 years and six general elections has been the first to declare.. | |
| Long before the exit poll confounded expectations, a different kind of tension had animated election day. The polls opened at 7am amid heightened security, after a general election campaign twice interrupted by terrorist attacks in Manchester and London. | Long before the exit poll confounded expectations, a different kind of tension had animated election day. The polls opened at 7am amid heightened security, after a general election campaign twice interrupted by terrorist attacks in Manchester and London. |
| For the party leaders, the end of almost two months of interviews, rallies, catchphrases, U-turns, brain fades and no-shows would have come as a relief, leaving them seemingly with nothing to do except cast their votes and smile for the cameras outside their local polling stations. | |
| The prime minister greeted reporters with a brisk “hello” before voting early with her husband, Philip, in their home village of Sonning, Berkshire. She did not speak further. | |
| By contrast, Corbyn wore a broad smile, a bright red tie and Labour rosette as he voted in his north London constituency. “Thank you all very much for coming here today,” he told waiting reporters. “It’s a day of our democracy. I’ve just voted and I’m very proud of our campaign.” | |
| There were scuffles among photographers outside the Lake District polling station where Farron cast his vote. | There were scuffles among photographers outside the Lake District polling station where Farron cast his vote. |
| Meanwhile, Ruth Davidson, the Scottish Conservative leader, joined a social media trend by posting pictures on Twitter under the hashtag #dogsatpollingstations, bringing along her dog, Wilson, when she cast her vote in central Edinburgh. | Meanwhile, Ruth Davidson, the Scottish Conservative leader, joined a social media trend by posting pictures on Twitter under the hashtag #dogsatpollingstations, bringing along her dog, Wilson, when she cast her vote in central Edinburgh. |
| Team Davidson voting in Edinburgh this morning. Wilson's #dogsatpollingstations debut... pic.twitter.com/QdM4cAmMMj | Team Davidson voting in Edinburgh this morning. Wilson's #dogsatpollingstations debut... pic.twitter.com/QdM4cAmMMj |
| Nicola Sturgeon, the Scottish first minister and SNP leader, said she was feeling good and waved at photographers after voting at a Glasgow community hall. | Nicola Sturgeon, the Scottish first minister and SNP leader, said she was feeling good and waved at photographers after voting at a Glasgow community hall. |
| Voters reported queues early in the morning outside polling stations, while others posted photographs of young people waiting in line to vote, including at the universities of East Anglia, Kent and Warwick, and at polling booths in two Oxford constituencies. | |
| Voters in Northern Ireland, who were casting their ballots three months after a snap assembly election caused by a collapse in power sharing, turned out to polling stations in heavy rain. | Voters in Northern Ireland, who were casting their ballots three months after a snap assembly election caused by a collapse in power sharing, turned out to polling stations in heavy rain. |
| The Alliance candidate for Belfast West, Sorcha Eastwood, cast her vote in Lisburn in her wedding dress, having married Dale Shirlow earlier in the day. | The Alliance candidate for Belfast West, Sorcha Eastwood, cast her vote in Lisburn in her wedding dress, having married Dale Shirlow earlier in the day. |