UK election results 2019: Boris Johnson storms to victory

By Tara John, Rob Picheta, Bianca Britton and Sheena McKenzie, CNN

Updated 1708 GMT (0108 HKT) December 13, 2019
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7:51 p.m. ET, December 12, 2019

Inquest begins among Labour figures

A few Labour MPs have discussed their disappointment at the night so far, with a devastating loss for the party on the cards.

Jess Phillips, who some have tipped for a leadership run if Jeremy Corbyn stands down, says she is "heartbroken."

She added: "We will all be thinking of the harm that can be done to those we care for. I understand, I feel pain, take that anger you feel and know it has to be fuel. Maybe not tonight but tomorrow.”

David Lammy, a Labour MP in London who won't be in any trouble tonight, adds that the results look "abysmal."

Labour MEP Seb Dance, meanwhile, has said voters were unable to accept Corbyn's position as leader.

Ian Murray, a Labour MP in Scotland, had a similarly damning verdict of Corbyn's leadership -- and you can be sure that there will be plenty more calls for him to step down when the sun comes up.

There's been no word from Corbyn yet, but many within Labour appear to be looking toward the next leader.

Caroline Flint, the Labour candidate in Don Valley who may find herself in deep trouble tonight, tweeted: "We're going to hear the Corbynistas blaming it on Brexit and the Labour Uber Remainers blaming Corbyn. Both are to blame for what looks like a terrible night for Labour. Both have taking for granted Labour's heartlands. Sorry we couldn't give you a Labour Party you could trust." The tweet was later deleted, but was caught by Britain's PA news agency.

6:45 p.m. ET, December 12, 2019

Labour could be facing a wipe-out in its historically safe seats

Ballots are counted at Silksworth Community Centre for the Houghton and Sunderland South constituency. Photo: Nigel Roddis/PA Images via Getty Images
Ballots are counted at Silksworth Community Centre for the Houghton and Sunderland South constituency. Photo: Nigel Roddis/PA Images via Getty Images

The first few seats are being announced, and they're awful news for Labour.

The Conservatives have just taken Blyth Valley -- a previously unthinkable result that shows just how dramatically Brexit has torn up Britain's electoral map.

The seat is a historic mining community that has never been held by another party. Labour lost 15% of their vote there, while the Conservatives picked up 5%.

Moments earlier, the first two seats were announced. Houghton and Sunderland South was held by Labour, but Jeremy Corbyn's party lost more than 18% of its vote share. The party also held Newcastle upon Tyne Central, and also lost votes there, though their share held up slightly better.

6:28 p.m. ET, December 12, 2019

Here's what we learned from the exit poll and what it means for the big parties

From Jack Guy, CNN

From left: Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon; Labour party leader Jeremy Corbyn; Prime Minister Boris Johnson; Leader of the Liberal Democrats Jo Swinson. Photos: AFP/ITV/Getty Images
From left: Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon; Labour party leader Jeremy Corbyn; Prime Minister Boris Johnson; Leader of the Liberal Democrats Jo Swinson. Photos: AFP/ITV/Getty Images

Conservatives

If the exit poll is correct, Boris Johnson and his Conservative party are on course for a thumping parliamentary majority which vindicates the electoral strategy of focusing on Brexit. The Prime Minister will now have a mandate for his withdrawal agreement -- but that will only signal the start of complex negotiations with the European Union.

Labour

While it is predicted to remain the second-largest party in parliament, Labour could be set for major upheaval as the exit poll suggests that Jeremy Corbyn has failed to unite a voter base divided on the Brexit question.

Questions are being asked as to whether Corbyn and Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell can continue in their posts. "These are things that will be discussed by the leadership of the party in the next few days," said Shadow International Trade Secretary Barry Gardiner, according to the PA news agency.

Liberal Democrats

The party failed to make a significant breakthrough, gaining just one seat according to the exit poll. Leader Jo Swinson gambled on an initial promise to revoke Brexit, which appeared to turn off voters, who were apparently keen to honor the result of the referendum and leave the EU -- or at least hold another vote on Brexit, rather than cancel it outright.

Scottish National Party

Projected to win 55 of a total 59 seats in Scotland, the SNP is set for a period of total domination north of the border. This could embolden calls for a second independence referendum in a country that voted overwhelmingly to remain in the EU.

6:14 p.m. ET, December 12, 2019

The first results are suddenly very important

Volunteers begin to count ballot papers in Hartlepool, England. Photo: Ian Forsyth/Getty Images
Volunteers begin to count ballot papers in Hartlepool, England. Photo: Ian Forsyth/Getty Images

We're expecting the first constituency results to be called soon.

These are usually very safe Labour seats, but they're in areas that voted for Brexit -- and if there's a big swing towards the Conservatives, it will give us our first clue as to how accurate the exit poll is.

Some of the areas could be close, if the poll is correct, which would confirm terrible news for Labour.

6:12 p.m. ET, December 12, 2019

There are big smiles on Conservative faces right now

Conservatives will be delighted with the results of the exit poll, CNN's Nic Robertson says -- but the reaction from Northern Ireland is sure to be more muted.

6:04 p.m. ET, December 12, 2019

This would be the largest Conservative majority since 1987

British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher waves outside 10 Downing Street in London on election day, June 11, 1987. The vote resulted in the third consecutive victory for Thatcher's Conservative Party. Photo: Fox Photos/Hulton Archive/Getty Images
British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher waves outside 10 Downing Street in London on election day, June 11, 1987. The vote resulted in the third consecutive victory for Thatcher's Conservative Party. Photo: Fox Photos/Hulton Archive/Getty Images

This is the kind of majority David Cameron and Theresa May always craved but never reached. If the exit poll is correct, Boris Johnson is set to enjoy more power than any Conservative Prime Minister since Margaret Thatcher.

The exit poll projects Johnson will win a majority of 86. That figure is arrived at by calculating the difference between the Conservatives' predicted 368 seats and all the opposition MPs combined, including the Speaker, who does not vote.

For Johnson, the prospect is a far cry from the dogged first months of his premiership -- which saw him losing his parliamentary majority within days of taking power. Then, he was in office but hardly in power. Now he joins Thatcher and Tony Blair as the only leaders in recent times to enjoy such a comfortable majority.

The consequences for Brexit are huge. Johnson should be able to pass whatever form of Brexit he pleases; he'll no longer have to appease the hardliners on the right of his own party, or the moderates and opposition MPs who favor remaining in the EU.

The prospect of a second referendum on Brexit, meanwhile, has virtually disappeared.

5:55 p.m. ET, December 12, 2019

John McDonnell says "decisions will be made" on Corbyn's leadership

Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer, John McDonnell, speaks at a press conference on December 9 in London. Photo: Chris J Ratcliffe/Getty Images
Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer, John McDonnell, speaks at a press conference on December 9 in London. Photo: Chris J Ratcliffe/Getty Images

Labour's Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell has admitted the exit poll is "extremely disappointing" for his party.

"I think Brexit has dominated, it has dominated everything by the looks of it," he told the BBC. "We thought other issues could cut through and there would be a wider debate, from this evidence there clearly wasn't."

On the future of Jeremy Corbyn's leadership of the party, Mr McDonnell said: "Let's see the results themselves, as I say, the appropriate decisions will be made and we'll always make the decisions in the best interests of our party."

It would appear incredibly difficult for Corbyn to survive such a historic Labour defeat.

5:52 p.m. ET, December 12, 2019

The Scottish National Party appears set to sweep Scotland

First Minister of Scotland and leader of the SNP Nicola Sturgeon votes in Glasgow, Scotland on Thursday. Photo: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images
First Minister of Scotland and leader of the SNP Nicola Sturgeon votes in Glasgow, Scotland on Thursday. Photo: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images

The Scottish National Party are set for a fantastic night, according to the exit poll.

They're projected to end up on 55 seats, one down from their historic result in 2015 but up 20 on the 2017 vote.

There are 59 constituencies in Scotland, so just four are projected to go to any party other than the SNP. But Conservative losses in Scotland are more than offset by their projected gains in England and Wales.

The SNP is playing down their prospects, though. A party spokesperson has told CNN they would be "surprised if we're much above 40 seats".

The spokesperson also underlined that it would be a “bittersweet victory" because of the projected Conservative majority.

5:45 p.m. ET, December 12, 2019

Boris Johnson thanks voters after exit poll projects huge win

Boris Johnson has reacted to the exit poll, thanking people who voted in the election.

In a statement following the exit poll, his Conservative Party said: “This is a projection, not a result, it’s important we wait to see the actual results when they come in. What we do know is that voters have rejected Labour’s fudge on Brexit. We needed this election because parliament was doing all it could to frustrate the will of the people. 

"A functioning majority would mean we can now finally end the uncertainty and get Brexit done. It would allow the country to come together and move forward by delivering the change people voted for in 2016. ”