Prime Minister Theresa May was fighting to hold on to her job on Friday as British voters denied her the stronger mandate she had sought to lead the country into divorce talks with the European Union. With no clear winner emerging from Thursday's parliamentary election, a wounded May signalled she would fight on, despite being on course to lose her majority in the House of Commons. Her Labour rival Jeremy Corbyn said she should step down.
Prime Minister Theresa May was fighting to hold on to her job on Friday as British voters denied her the stronger mandate she had sought to lead the country into divorce talks with the European Union. With no clear winner emerging from Thursday's parliamentary election, a wounded May signalled she would fight on, despite being on course to lose her majority in the House of Commons. Her Labour rival Jeremy Corbyn said she should step down.
An updated BBC forecast predicted May's Conservatives would win 318 of the 650 seats, eight short of a majority, while Corbyn's left-wing Labour would take 267 -- producing a "hung parliament" and potential deadlock.
Sky News predicted May would score somewhere between 315 and 325 seats.
With talks of unprecedented complexity on Britain's departure from the European Union due to start in just 10 days' time, there was uncertainty over who would form the next government and over the fundamental direction Brexit would take.
"At this time, more than anything else this country needs a period of stability," a grim-faced May said after winning her own parliamentary seat of Maidenhead, near London.
"If ... the Conservative Party has won the most seats and probably the most votes then it will be incumbent on us to ensure that we have that period of stability and that is exactly what we will do."
(With agency inputs)
1. Theresa May and Jeremy Corbyn
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Workers in protective equipment are reflected in the window of a betting shop with a display inviting customers to place bets on tbe result of the general election with images of Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May and opposition Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn.
Image courtesy: Reuters
2. UK General Elections 2017
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BBC Television centre is illuminated with the results for Britain's general election in London, June 9, 2017.
Image courtesy: Reuters
3. Phone 'Polling' Booth
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Polling station sign is seen on a telephone box outside the polling station at Rotherwick Hall, west of London.
Image courtesy: AFP
4. South London
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A man walks past the polling station set up at a community centre in south London.
Image courtesy: AFP
5. Jeremy Corbyn
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Jeremy Corbyn, leader of Britain's opposition Labour Party, reacts at a counting centre for Britain’s general election in London, June 9, 2017.
Image courtesy: Reuters
6. British PM Theresa May
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Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May, listens as the declaration at her constituency is made for in the general election in Maidenhead, England, Friday, June 9, 2017. British Prime Minister Theresa May's gamble in calling an early election appeared Friday to have backfired spectacularly, after an exit poll suggested her Conservative Party could lose its majority in Parliament.
Image courtesy: PTI
7. Counting votes
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Ballots are counted at a counting centre for Britain’s general election in London, June 9, 2017.
Image courtesy: Reuters
8. Labour party Leader Jeremy Corbyn
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Britain's opposition Labour party Leader Jeremy Corbyn is greeted as he arrives at Labour Party headquarters in central London on June 9, 2017 after results in a snap general election showing a hung parliament with Labour gains and the Conservatives losing its majority.British Prime Minister Theresa May faced pressure to resign on Friday after losing her parliamentary majority, plunging the country into uncertainty as Brexit talks loom. The pound fell sharply amid fears the Conservative leader will be unable to form a government and could even be forced out of office after a troubled campaign overshadowed by two terror attacks.
Image courtesy: AFP
9. Labour party Leader Jeremy Corbyn
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Britain's opposition Labour party Leader Jeremy Corbyn gives a thumbs up as he arrives at Labour Party headquarters in central London on June 9, 2017.
Image courtesy: AFP
10. Theresa May
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British Prime Minister Theresa May leaves the Conservative Party HQ in central London, on June 9, 2017, hours after the polls closed in the British general election.Prime Minister Theresa May''s Conservatives are set to lose their overall majority after Britain's general election, an exit poll showed on Thursday after voting closed.
Image courtesy: AFP
