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Theresa May’s future in question as she loses Tory majority Election disaster: Theresa May has ‘no intention of resigning’ amid calls to step down
(35 minutes later)
Prime Minister Theresa May has been humiliated in the UK general election, failing to secure a majority for her Conservative Party, leaving the country with a hung parliament. Prime Minister Theresa May has no intention of resigning and will instead form a minority government based on the current election results, reports indicate.
The PM will make a speech at 10am amid reports she will resign. The PM has been humiliated in the UK general election, failing to secure a majority for her Conservative Party, leaving the country with a hung parliament.
May will make a speech at 10am BST amid calls for her resignation. However, according to the BBC, the PM has no “intention of quitting.”
Spectator magazine journalist James Forysth reports Tory officials inside Conservative Campaign Headquarters (CCHQ) attribute the devastating result to three issues: people are fed up with austerity, Brexit backlash and “Theresa May turned out not to be who the voters thought she was.”Spectator magazine journalist James Forysth reports Tory officials inside Conservative Campaign Headquarters (CCHQ) attribute the devastating result to three issues: people are fed up with austerity, Brexit backlash and “Theresa May turned out not to be who the voters thought she was.”
According to ITV, the PM is likely to announce her resignation and trigger a Conservative leadership election when she addresses the nation at 10am. Former Tory Chancellor George Osborne, who was sacked by Theresa May when she took office last year, said the result would be “completely catastrophic” for the party and the PM.
The PM is already facing calls for her resignation.
Former Tory Chancellor George Osborne, who was sacked by Theresa May when she took office last year, said the result would be “completely catastrophic” for the party and the PM.
Pundits predict May will be forced to resign, making her one of the shortest serving prime ministers in history.Pundits predict May will be forced to resign, making her one of the shortest serving prime ministers in history.
When May took the extraordinary step of calling a snap election in April, the Conservatives enjoyed a 24 point lead over Labour in the opinion polls.When May took the extraordinary step of calling a snap election in April, the Conservatives enjoyed a 24 point lead over Labour in the opinion polls.
At the time, the PM denied she was taking advantage of Labour’s weak standing in the polls and instead claimed she was seeking a larger mandate from the country in order enter Brexit negotiations with a strong hand.At the time, the PM denied she was taking advantage of Labour’s weak standing in the polls and instead claimed she was seeking a larger mandate from the country in order enter Brexit negotiations with a strong hand.
Reaction to the polls came in fast, with a Labour spokesperson telling the Independent the result would be “extraordinary” if it played out and would punish the Tories for “taking the British people for granted.”Reaction to the polls came in fast, with a Labour spokesperson telling the Independent the result would be “extraordinary” if it played out and would punish the Tories for “taking the British people for granted.”
“If this poll turns out to be anywhere near accurate, it would be an extraordinary result.“If this poll turns out to be anywhere near accurate, it would be an extraordinary result.
“There’s never been such a turnaround in a course of a campaign … Labour has run a positive and honest campaign - we haven’t engaged in smears or personal attacks.”“There’s never been such a turnaround in a course of a campaign … Labour has run a positive and honest campaign - we haven’t engaged in smears or personal attacks.”
Labour’s Shadow Defense Secretary Emily Thornberry called on May to resign if she loses her overall majority.Labour’s Shadow Defense Secretary Emily Thornberry called on May to resign if she loses her overall majority.
Thornberry told Sky News: “I think she should go, because I think she has manifestly failed.”Thornberry told Sky News: “I think she should go, because I think she has manifestly failed.”
Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell told the BBC he thinks May’s position has become “untenable.”Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell told the BBC he thinks May’s position has become “untenable.”
Former shadow cabinet minister Clive Lewis was less diplomatic in his language, simply tweeting: “Whatever happens May is TOAST!”Former shadow cabinet minister Clive Lewis was less diplomatic in his language, simply tweeting: “Whatever happens May is TOAST!”
Leave campaigners are concerned that a hung parliament could put the brakes on Brexit.Leave campaigners are concerned that a hung parliament could put the brakes on Brexit.
UKIP leader Paul Nuttall tweeted: “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 tweeted: “If the exit poll is true then Theresa May has put Brexit in jeopardy. I said at the start this election was wrong. Hubris.”
Conservative heavyweights were quick to dismiss the exit poll, citing previous elections where the predictions were not correct.Conservative heavyweights were quick to dismiss the exit poll, citing previous elections where the predictions were not correct.
Tory Defense Secretary Michael Fallon told the BBC: “Let’s see some actual results to see if this is borne out - this is a projection, I think you made that clear, it is not a result.Tory Defense Secretary Michael Fallon told the BBC: “Let’s see some actual results to see if this is borne out - this is a projection, I think you made that clear, it is not a result.
“These exit polls have been wrong in the past. In 2015 they underestimated our vote. I think in a couple of elections before that they overestimated our vote.“These exit polls have been wrong in the past. In 2015 they underestimated our vote. I think in a couple of elections before that they overestimated our vote.
“So we do need to see some actual results before we interpret this one way or the other.”“So we do need to see some actual results before we interpret this one way or the other.”
If the Conservatives are unable or unwilling to form a minority government, they may look to form a coalition with another party.If the Conservatives are unable or unwilling to form a minority government, they may look to form a coalition with another party.
However the Liberal Democrats, which formed a coalition with the Tories following the 2010 general election, have ruled this out.However the Liberal Democrats, which formed a coalition with the Tories following the 2010 general election, have ruled this out.
Former Lib Dem leader Menzies Campbell told the BBC: “Tim Farron made it very clear. He said no pact, no deal, no coalition. We've had our fingers burnt by coalition, I don't need to tell you that. I find it very, very difficult to see how Tim Farron would be able to go back on what he previously said.”Former Lib Dem leader Menzies Campbell told the BBC: “Tim Farron made it very clear. He said no pact, no deal, no coalition. We've had our fingers burnt by coalition, I don't need to tell you that. I find it very, very difficult to see how Tim Farron would be able to go back on what he previously said.”