LONDON, Dec 13 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Boris Johnson looks certain to remain as prime minister with a comfortable majority, as numerous Labour heartland seats fall to the Conservatives, The Guardian reported.
The British daily reported on its website that the Conservative party had garnered 268 seats as of 4.30 am UK time.
The Labour party had taken 181 seats, SNP 41, Liberal Democrats 7, DUP 5, Sinn Féin 5, SDLP 2, Alliance (Northern Ireland) 1, Green 1, Brexit party 0.
The first big upset of the night came in Blyth Valley. The Northumberland former mining town, which has been Labour since 1950, was taken by Tory party local Ian Levy in a 10.19 percent swing.
Meanwhile, the BBC reported that the pound surged against the US dollar after the exit poll figures were announced as polls closed at 22:00 GMT, with sterling gaining three percent to US$1.35 – its highest level since May last year.
The pound also jumped to a three-and-a-half-year high against the euro.
Home Secretary Priti Patel said the government will move quickly to “get Brexit done” before Christmas by introducing legislation in Parliament, if it is returned to power.
Shadow chancellor John McDonnell told the BBC the exit poll was “extremely disappointing” for Labour if it was correct.
“I thought it would be closer,” he said, and he blamed what he called “Brexit election,” when Labour had been hoping “other issues could cut through”.
It would be the biggest Conservative victory since 1987 and Labour’s worst result since 1935, the poll suggests, with the party forecast to lose 71 seats.
–NNN-AGENCIES
