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Election results 2017: Tories 'to fall short of majority' Election results 2017: Tories 'to fall short of majority'
(35 minutes later)
The Conservatives are on course to be the largest party but may not have an overall majority, according to the latest BBC general election forecast.The Conservatives are on course to be the largest party but may not have an overall majority, according to the latest BBC general election forecast.
Theresa May's hopes of a landslide victory have been dashed with more than 400 seats declared. Theresa May faces the humiliation of ending with fewer seats than when she called the election.
The Tories are projected to get 318 seats, Labour 267 and the SNP 32.The Tories are projected to get 318 seats, Labour 267 and the SNP 32.
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn called on Theresa May to go - but she said the country needed stability and her party would "ensure" it.Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn called on Theresa May to go - but she said the country needed stability and her party would "ensure" it.
Labour looks set to make 29 gains with the Tories losing nine seats - and the SNP could lose 24 seats in a bad night for Nicola Sturgeon. Labour looks set to make 29 gains with the Tories losing nine seats - and the SNP could lose 24 seats in a bad night for Nicola Sturgeon, with her party losing seats to the Tories, Labour and Lib Dems.
The Conservatives are forecast to win 43% of the vote, Labour 40%, the Lib Dems 8%, UKIP 2%, the Greens 2%, the SNP 3%, Plaid Cymru 1% and others 1%.
Mr Corbyn, speaking after being re-elected in Islington North, said it was time for Mrs May to "make way" for a government that would be "truly representative of the people of this country".Mr Corbyn, speaking after being re-elected in Islington North, said it was time for Mrs May to "make way" for a government that would be "truly representative of the people of this country".
He said he was "very proud" of the results so far, which he said were a "vote for hope for the future" and said people were "turning their backs on austerity".He said he was "very proud" of the results so far, which he said were a "vote for hope for the future" and said people were "turning their backs on austerity".
The Conservatives have said that in the event of a hung Parliament, Mrs May would get the opportunity to form a government first.The Conservatives have said that in the event of a hung Parliament, Mrs May would get the opportunity to form a government first.
Speaking at her count in Maidenhead, she said the full picture had yet to emerge, but added: "At this time more than anything else, this country needs a period of stability. But there is a chance that the UK could be facing a fresh election later this summer under the rules in the Fixed Term Parliament Act.
Questions are also being asked about the potential impact on the upcoming Brexit negotiations and Mrs May's own future, with one minister telling the BBC's Laura Kuenssberg it was "hard to see how she could stay after these results".
Speaking at her count in Maidenhead, Theresa May said the full picture had yet to emerge, but added: "At this time more than anything else, this country needs a period of stability.
"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.""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."
Former Lib Dem Leader Nick Clegg has lost his Sheffield Hallam seat to the Labour candidate Jared O'Mara. Labour's shadow foreign secretary Emily Thornberry told BBC News: "It is possible that we will form the next government."
In his defeat speech, he said Britain was now a "deeply divided and polarised" nation and he predicted the next Parliament faced the "excruciating task of trying to assemble a sensible government for this country".
Former business secretary Sir Vince Cable retook his Twickenham seat for the Lib Dems moments later, while party leader Tim Farron is facing a recount in his Westmorland and Lonsdale seat.
The SNP's leader at Westminster, Angus Robertson, has lost his seat to Conservative Douglas Ross and the Tories also took Angus, in North East Scotland, from the SNP.
Labour gained Rutherglen and Hamilton West from the SNP, with an 8.9% swing, suggesting, said polling expert John Curtice, that the SNP "are going to suffer quite substantial losses".
Labour also held Wrexham, a top Conservative target in Wales and took the Vale of Clwyd from the Conservatives, its first gain of the night from Mrs May's party.
Jeremy Corbyn's party also took Battersea, in South London, from the Conservatives, with Treasury Minister Jane Ellison losing her seat.
Labour's Shadow Foreign Secretary Emily Thornberry told BBC News: "It is possible that we will form the next government."
She ruled out a coalition, saying Labour would form a minority government in the event of a hung parliament, asking the smaller parties such as the Lib Dems and the SNP to support its programme in a Queen's Speech.She ruled out a coalition, saying Labour would form a minority government in the event of a hung parliament, asking the smaller parties such as the Lib Dems and the SNP to support its programme in a Queen's Speech.
To get an overall majority, one party needs to get 326 seats, although in practice the Conservatives would be expected to be able to get a Queen's Speech through with 322 MPs, if they had the backing of Democratic Unionist Party MPs. Some big names have lost their seat in a night of upsets - Alex Salmond lost to the Conservative candidate in Gordon and former Lib Dem Leader Nick Clegg has lost his Sheffield Hallam seat to the Labour candidate.
In his defeat speech, Mr Clegg said Britain was now a "deeply divided and polarised" nation and he predicted the next Parliament faced the "excruciating task of trying to assemble a sensible government for this country".
Former business secretary Sir Vince Cable retook his Twickenham seat for the Lib Dems moments later.
The party has ruled out going into coalition with either the Conservatives or Labour.
The SNP's leader at Westminster, Angus Robertson, has lost his seat to Conservative Douglas Ross and the Tories also took Angus, in North East Scotland, from the SNP.
SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon said she was "disappointed" to have lost a number of seats but claimed her party had still "won the election in Scotland".
She said she would like the SNP to "play a part in a progressive alternative to a Tory government" but would wait to see the final results.
The BBC forecast suggests the Green Party would be unchanged with one seat and Plaid Cymru would still have three MPs, while the Lib Dems would gain three.The BBC forecast suggests the Green Party would be unchanged with one seat and Plaid Cymru would still have three MPs, while the Lib Dems would gain three.
To get an overall majority, one party needs to get 326 seats, although in practice the Conservatives would be expected to be able to get a Queen's Speech through with 318 MPs, if they had the backing of Democratic Unionist Party MPs.
AnalysisAnalysis
By BBC Political Editor Laura KuenssbergBy BBC Political Editor Laura Kuenssberg
If the numbers in the exit poll are correct, Theresa May played a high risk political game and has lost it - she didn't have to call this election, and only did so in order to give herself a mandate and breathing space during the bumpy ride of Brexit. Theresa May called this election only because she thought she would achieve a much bigger majority than the Tories already had.
Just a few weeks ago at the start of all of this she seemed unassailable, but a shaky campaign and an insurgent Labour Party may have dashed the Tories' hopes. Even if the Conservatives still end up ahead in terms of the number of seats, her authority looks set to be seriously damaged.
This exit poll result is not what either parties were predicting privately - this would be another political surprise - the public again defying the expectations of both the main sides. It is hard to see how her reputation will recover, and she will have achieved the opposite effect of what she had hoped. This election could produce a more uncertain political picture, a wounded prime minister trying to take on the most complicated task any Prime Minister has faced - that's if, of course, the Tories remain the largest party, and she hangs on.
The Conservatives do look set to be the largest party, it's not clear on these numbers if they will be able to govern alone - Theresa May's promise throughout was to offer her catchphrase "strong and stable leadership" - instead she may end diminished - but only of course, your votes, and the real results, will determine through the course of the night what really happens next. Read Laura's full blog
Evening Standard editor George Osborne, who was sacked as chancellor last year by Theresa May, said, if borne out by actual results, the "catastrophic" exit poll figures would put Mrs May's future as Conservative leader in doubt.Evening Standard editor George Osborne, who was sacked as chancellor last year by Theresa May, said, if borne out by actual results, the "catastrophic" exit poll figures would put Mrs May's future as Conservative leader in doubt.
SNP Deputy Leader Stewart Hosie said it would be an "extraordinary thing" for Theresa May "to call this election for narrow party advantage and then, if these numbers are correct, to blow it incredibly".
He said the SNP would still win the election in Scotland, despite the exit poll forecasting substantial losses.
A Lib Dem source said it was "too early" to comment on the exit poll, but added: "In this election holding our own is a good night."
The party ruled out going into coalition with either the Conservatives or Labour.
Green co-leader Caroline Lucas said she could "hardly dare hope" that the exit poll was right, adding: "To be clear, Greens will never support a Tory government."Green co-leader Caroline Lucas said she could "hardly dare hope" that the exit poll was right, adding: "To be clear, Greens will never support a Tory government."
UKIP leader Paul Nuttall, who lost his bid to become the MP for Boston and Skegness, said: "If the exit poll is true then Theresa May has put Brexit in jeopardy. I said at the start this election was wrong. Hubris."UKIP leader Paul Nuttall, who lost his bid to become the MP for Boston and Skegness, said: "If the exit poll is true then Theresa May has put Brexit in jeopardy. I said at the start this election was wrong. Hubris."
A total of 650 Westminster MPs will be elected, with more than 45 million people entitled to vote.A total of 650 Westminster MPs will be elected, with more than 45 million people entitled to vote.
Some votes had been cast before Thursday through postal voting, which accounted for 16% of the total electorate at the 2015 general election, when the overall turnout was 66%.Some votes had been cast before Thursday through postal voting, which accounted for 16% of the total electorate at the 2015 general election, when the overall turnout was 66%.