As it happenedended

Election 2017 live updates: Theresa May claims Conservative government supported by DUP will provide 'certainty'

The Independent will be bringing you all the live updates as the UK's next government is formed

Friday 09 June 2017 06:52 EDT

Your support helps us to tell the story

My recent work focusing on Latino voters in Arizona has shown me how crucial independent journalism is in giving voice to underrepresented communities.

Your support is what allows us to tell these stories, bringing attention to the issues that are often overlooked. Without your contributions, these voices might not be heard.

Every dollar you give helps us continue to shine a light on these critical issues in the run up to the election and beyond

Eric Garcia

Washington Bureau Chief

Theresa May has said she will form a Conservative government backed by the DUP, claiming it can bring "certainty" to the UK.

After visiting the Queen, the Prime Minister claimed there was a "strong relationship" between the two parties, amid concern over the DUP's controversial anti-abortion and anti-LGBT policies.

The PM has also apologised to Conservatives who lost last night. She said: "I'm sorry for all those colleagues who lost their seats." She will "reflect on what we need to do in the future to take the party forward" after the result, she added.

The UK voted for a hung parliament after shock losses for the Conservatives in the 2017 general election. With 649 of 650 seats declared, the Tories had 318 seats - eight short of the figure needed to win outright - with Labour on 261, the SNP on 35 and Liberal Democrats on 12.

Jeremy Corbyn's party increase its share of the vote by 9.6 per cent, while the Tories were up 5.5 per cent, the Liberal Democrats, Greens and SNP saw small loses and Ukip's vote collapsed.

The live blog has now ended

Who are the DUP?

Politicians, voters, and even their pets have been heading to polling stations and are posing for the cameras at every opportunity.

The Prime Minister has made clear that she would rely on the support of the Democratic Unionist Party in order to get her programme through Parliament, despite concern over its stance on issues including equal marriage, abortion and climate change.

Making no allusion to losses suffered by the Conservatives, Ms May said she intended to press ahead with her plans for Brexit.

She faced calls from within her own party to consider her own position after the election, which she brought forward by three years in the hope it would deliver an increased majority in the Commons.

Jeremy Corbyn urged her to resign and allow him to form a minority administration, declaring: “We are ready to serve this country.”

But, after intensive talks with the DUP, the Prime Minister instead drove the short distance to Buckingham Palace to ask the Queen for permission to form a new government.

The final election results came in late on Friday, after Kensington finally declared a Labour win — with a tiny 20-vote majority. They were:

Out of 650 seats

Conservatives 318 (-13)

Labour 262 (+30)

SNP 35 (-21)

Lib Dems 12 (+4)

DUP 10 (+2)

Sinn Fein 7 (+3)

Plaid Cymru 4 (+1)

Green 1 (--)

Ukip 0 (-1)

1496969488

This is from our reporter Rachel Roberts in Rye and Hastings - where Amber Rudd, the Home Secretary, is reported to be in trouble.

"The media are descending on the seaside constituency of Hastings and Rye for what could be the shock result of the evening as Home Secretary Amber Rudd’s seat appears to be within Labour’s sights.

Ms Rudd holds a majority of just under 4,796 in the seat, regarded as a Labour-Conservative marginal. Voter turn-out has been announced as just over 70 per cent, with the count underway.

Ms Rudd’s team have said she will not be giving media interviews before the result, although the Home Secretary has played a prominent role in the campaign standing in for Prime Minister Theresa May in the seven-way television debate of party leaders.

In contrast, a relaxed looking Labour candidate, Hastings borough council leader Peter Chowney, is happily giving media interviews. He told the Independent: “It’s too early to be making predictions, but we have run a great campaign, and I’ve really enjoyed it. In particular, I’ve been delighted to see so many young people getting involved after years of politic seeming to be the preserve of the older generations. We’ve had 2,000 people out campaigning, many of them young.”

Unlike others in his party, Mr Chowney is an enthusiastic supporter of Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn.

“There’s no conflict of interest for me there, no, I’ve always been a fan. I’ve found the reaction to him on the doorstep has been far more positive than negative. Of course, not everyone likes him, but the young people in particular are so enthused by his alternative vision, it’s actually been quite a joy to behold.”

Mr Chowney said the issues which had come up on the doorstep in the reatively deprived East Sussex constituency have mainly been housing, policing, the cost of living and education. Like Ms Rudd, he was was a Remainer, but said this hadn’t appeared to be a huge issue with the Brexit-leaning electorate in the constituency where 55 per cent voted to leave the EU.

“Brexit has come up a bit, but obviously this election has become more about security because of the events of the last couple of weeks. People are very concerned about the cuts to policing both in the local area and nationally.

Mr Chowney’s campaign was given a boost when the Green Party decided not to field a candidate to boost the chances of a so-called “progressive alliance” being formed. The Liberal Democrats and Ukip are not expected to make much of an impact, although independent candidate Nicholas Wilson has fought a strong campaign criticising Ms Rudd over the Government’s sale of arms to Saudi Arabia in a hustings at the weekend and accusing the Home Secretary of “censoring” him when the chair asked him to stop talking because he was “off topic”.

Ms Rudd told the BBC she is “hopeful” about the result, which is not expected before 3am.

Kristin Hugo9 June 2017 01:51

1496969512