Boris Johnson was given the welcome of a conquering hero as he returned to Downing Street today after receiving royal approval for his Brexit Government following his staggering landslide election victory.
The Prime Minister was met with wild applause and cheering from staff after returning from seeing the Queen at Buckingham Palace this morning, hours after he put Jeremy Corbyn and Labour to the sword in a dramatic triumph.
In a night of success that probably surpassed even the Prime Minister’s wildest expectations, he shattered the far Left opposition and is on course for a majority of 80 that will allow him to realise his dream of getting the UK out of the EU.
With one result to come the Conservatives are set to rack up a stunning tally of 365 seats in the first December election for nearly a century, to Labour’s 203.
Mr Johnson made the short journey from Downing Street to the London landmark shortly before 11am and gave a broad grin as he was ushered inside for his audience.
After around 30 minutes inside he emerged and returned to the heart of government to begin his main task of getting the UK out of the EU by the end of January.
Earlier he had ordered Remainers calling for a second referendum to ‘put a sock in it’ as he hailed the largest Tory victory in more than 30 years.
After laying waste to Labour’s ‘red wall’ of Leave-backing strongholds, the PM said he had been given a ‘powerful’ vote of confidence by the British people and would work ‘night and day’ to repay their trust.
He said the election rout had finally settled the Brexit issue, saying pressing ahead was now the ‘irresistible, unquestionable decision of the British people’.
And in a stark message to those who have been pushing for a rerun of the 2016 Brexit contest, he said: ‘That’s it. Put a sock in the megaphone.’
He joked: ‘Let’s get Brexit done. But first, let’s get breakfast done.’
His bullish speech to activists in Westminster was followed by a victory stroll into Downing Street with girlfriend Carrie Symonds.
The news of Mr Johnson’s barnstorming win was reluctantly welcomed in Europe. Brexit co-ordinator Guy Verhofstadt this morning tweeted: ‘Brexit will now happen. The British people have confirmed their referendum decision of 2016.
‘The EU must now focus on building a new close, fair and lasting partnership with Britain. It is in our common interest.’
It came as:
- Jeremy Corbyn announced this morning that he will quit as leader after Labour humiliatingly collapsed to 203 – down 59 on 2017
- His party became engulfed in a brutal civil war as moderates warned of ’20 years of Tory rule’ unless his hard-Left supporters were removed from positions of power
- Jo Swinson quit as leader of the Liberal Democrats after she was ousted from her own seat in Scotland by the SNP following a disastrous General Election campaign in which she backed a hardline Remain policy
- Scots First Minister Nicola Sturgeon claimed the surging SNP had a fresh mandate for holding a second referendum on Scottish independence with more than a dozen gains for the party as it jumped to 48 seats
- Sterling soared to its highest level against euro in a decade and global share prices rose
- London confirmed itself as a Remain enclave at odds with the rest of the country as voters in the capital bucked the national election trend to swing behind pro-EU parties
- The PM’s Brexit guru Dominic Cummings tore into Remainer MPs and journalists after the win, boasting: ‘You f***ed it up’.
Mr Johnson arrived back at No 10 from his Buckingham Palace audience with the Queen to rapturous applause from Number 10 staff and his own aides in these image from inside the heart of Government
Mr Johnson was clapped through the political complex behind the iconic front door as he began the task of sorting Brexit. He is now expected to reshuffle his Cabinet on Monday and bring back his Brexit bill to the Commons next week
The images of the Prime Minister offer a rare glimpse inside inside Number 10. He earlier said he had not wanted to call the December election but the outcome was ‘historic’
A beaming Mr Johnson arrived at Buckingham Palace to see the Queen after his dramatic election success this morning. He was greeted at Buckingham Palace by the Queen’s Equerry-in-Waiting Lieutenant Colonel Charles Richards and her private secretary Edward Young
Mr Johnson was greeted at Buckingham Palace by the Queen’s Equerry-in-Waiting Lieutenant Colonel Charles Richards and her private secretary Edward Young when his ministerial car arrived.
How the Red Wall crumbled: Traditional working-class support for Labour IMPLODES in safe seats as Darlington, Redcar, Bishop Auckland, and Burnley all fall to rampaging Tories
Boris Johnson stormed through Labour’s ‘red wall’ last night to consign Jeremy Corbyn’s party to a historic election defeat.
The raft of seats in Wales, the Midlands and the North of England had been safe Labour strongholds for decades.
But they came crumbling down last night as pro-Brexit voters backed the Tories. Sajid Javid proclaimed that the Conservatives are now the ‘party of the working class’.
Labour’s red wall crumbled last night as the party haemorrhaged support in places seen as safe seats for decades. The map on the left, from 2017, shows a solid red block spreading from North Wales across the north of England and up to the north east. The map on the right, shows a bluer picture, with new Tory seats including Vale of Clwyd and Blyth Valley at either end.
Among a series of symbolic blows, Labour lost decades-old bastions such as Ashfield and Bishop Auckland and surrendered Tony Blair’s old seat of Sedgefield while Dennis Skinner lost his job after 49 years in Parliament.
Labour were also beaten in Workington, identified by a think tank as the home of Brexiteer voters who would turn their backs on Mr Corbyn’s party.
The politician was ushered inside and was led to the Queen’s private apartments where, following convention, the head of state will ask Mr Johnson whether he will form a Government.
His traditional audience came as his predecessor David Cameron hailed his win, telling ITV News: ‘It’s an extraordinary result, a powerful result. It marks the end of Corbyn and Corbynism and that’s a very good thing for the country.’
Mr Corbyn petulantly swiped at ‘disgusting’ media attacks on him, saying he still believed his hard-Left platform was ‘popular’, and blamed Brexit for preventing ‘normal political debate’. He made clear he will stay on for a period of ‘reflection’ while a replacement is selected.
But his furious backbenchers have already signalled they want a change in political direction that will spark a civil war, warning there could be ’20 years of Tory rule’.
The bombshell numbers would give Mr Johnson a huge Commons majority of 80, the biggest since Margaret Thatcher’s third victory in 1987, and more than enough to fulfill his vow to ‘get Brexit done’.
The Tories’ estimated vote share of 45 per cent in Britain is the highest achieved since Edward Heath in 1970.
In England the Conservatives polled 47.1 per cent to Labour’s 34.3 per cent, and in Wales they were supported by an impressive 36.1 per cent.
By contrast Mr Corbyn looks to have stewarded his party to its worst performance since 1935 and plunged it into a seething civil war – despite his allies vainly claiming earlier that high turnout might have helped him pull off a surprise.
In another moment of high drama, Lib Dem leader Jo Swinson suffered the ultimate humiliation of losing her own East Dunbartonshire seat. And ironically the party’s Brexit spokesman Tom Brake lost his Carshalton base to the Tories.
As a delighted Donald Trump tweeted that it was ‘looking like a big win’ and teed up a ‘massive new trade deal’ with the US, Mr Johnson told a victory rally in Westminster: ‘In winning this election we have won votes and the trust of people who have never voted Conservative before and people have always voted for other parties.
‘Those people want change. We cannot, must not, must not, let them down.
‘And in delivering change we must change too.
‘We must recognise the incredible reality that we now speak as a one nation Conservative Party literally for everyone from Woking to Workington, from Kensington I’m proud to say to Clwyd South, from Surrey Heath to Sedgefield, from Wimbledon to Wolverhampton.’
Ready to go; Mr Johnson inside Number 10 as he prepared to had to Buckingham Palace to met the Queen
Straighten that tie: Mr Johnson readies himself to face the Queen at Buckingham Palace
The Prime Minister leaving Number 10. He headed to Buckingham Palace to see the monarch after he put Jeremy Corbyn and Labour to the sword in a dramatic overnight triumph
Here I go: Mr Johnson waves as he leaves No 10 to make the short journey across central London to the Queen’s London residence
He added: ‘Parliament must change so that we in Parliament are working for you the British people.’
Speaking at his count in Uxbridge and South Ruislip earlier, told rapturous supporters, including girlfriend Carrie and their dog Dilyn, that he had not wanted to call the December election but the outcome was ‘historic’.
And in an address to staff at CCHQ afterwards, Mr Johnson said: ‘We must understand now what an earthquake we have created.
‘The way in which we have changed the political map in this country.
‘We have to grapple with the consequences of that. We have to change our own party. We have to rise to the level of events. We have to rise to the challenge that the British people have given us.’
The Conservatives pulled off a massive coup by securing the symbolic swing constituency of Workington, overturning a 3,000 majority to triumph by 4,000 votes with a 10 per cent swing.
Boris Johnson waved for the waiting cameras as he walked into Downing Street with his partner Carrie Symonds today
Mr Johnson, bearing his ministerial red box, and Ms Symonds waved to the waiting media before disappearing inside
After laying waste to Labour’s ‘red wall’ of Leave-backing strongholds, the PM said he had been given a ‘powerful’ vote of confidence by the British people and would work ‘night and day’ to repay their trust
They also overturned an 8,000 majority to rip the former mining area of Blythe Valley in Northumberland from Labour’s grip for the first time ever. The party’s candidate won by 700 votes after securing an incredible 10.2 per cent swing in what was theoretically only 85th on the target list.
There were jaw-dropping gains in Bishop Auckland – which had never elected a Conservative MP in 134 years – and Tony Blair’s old stronghold of Sedgefield.
Left-wing ‘Beast of Bolsover’ Dennis Skinner was ejected from the seat he has held since 1970, as Mr Johnson flipped huge swathes of the country from deep red to Tory blue.
Other fortresses to fall included Leigh, Darlington, Wakefield, Stockton South, Redcar – which saw a 15.5 per cent swing – Peterborough, Wrexham and the Vale of Clywd.
As the political map was redrawn in a few tumultuous hours, places like Jarrow, Houghton & Sunderland South, Sunderland Central, and Newcastle Upon-Tyne Central saw enormous movements from Labour to the Conservatives – although the party clung on.
A pattern was emerging of Brexit Party candidates draining votes from Labour in its northern heartlands, while Tory support held steady.
In a few crumbs of comfort for Remainers, Cabinet minister Zac Goldsmith lost to the Lib Dems in the heavily Remain seat of Richmond Park.
Putney was taken from the Conservatives by Labour thanks to tactical voting by Lib Dem supporters. And Labour’s Rosie Duffield kept hold of Canterbury – one of its marquee captures from the 2017 poll.
However, a cross-party bid to eject Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab in Esher & Walton and Tory ex-leader Iain Duncan Smith in Chingford and Wood Green failed. And Kensington was painted blue again, having briefly been held by Labour’s Emma Dent Coad.
There were scenes of jubilation in CCHQ as the exit poll was unveiled at 10pm, with staff singing and dancing following a month of brutal political struggle as Mr Corbyn tried desperately to sell his hard-Left agenda to the UK public.
In a barnstomring victory speech, he told cheering crowds: ‘That’s it. Put a sock in the megaphone.’ He joked: ‘Let’s get Brexit done. But first, let’s get breakfast done’
The bullish speech to activists in Westminster, which was followed by a victory stroll into Downing Street with girlfriend Carrie Symonds, came as the Conservatives racked up a stunning tally of 364 seats
Opposition Labour party leader Jeremy Corbyn leaves his home in north London today, with police apparently watching on
Jeremy Corbyn’s wife Laura tries to shield him from the press as they arrive home. Labour was engulfed in a brutal civil war this morning as moderates warned of ’20 years of Tory rule’ unless Jeremy Corbyn’s supporters were removed from positions of power
The bitter recrimination between Mr Corbyn’s hard-Left supporters and more moderate factions began as soon as the exit polls last night accurately predicted the party’s brutal pummelling at the hands of voters
While Mr Johnson was feted by supporters, Jeremy Corbyn cut a forlorn figure at his count in Islington as he announced he will step down as Labour leader
Labour’s John McDonnell , shortly after the exit polls were announced at 10pm. The overall nationwide result represents an emphatic rejection of Mr Corbyn’s hard-left socialist vision which he has peddled since he unexpectedly became leader
In another moment of high drama, Lib Dem leader Jo Swinson suffered the ultimate humiliation of losing her own East Dunbartonshire seat
Donald Trump voiced his delight on Twitter at the ‘big win’ for Mr Johnson in the most important election for a generation
The initial exit poll suggested the Tories were going to do even better, with 368 seats and Labour collapsing to 191.
However, the numbers were scaled back a bit as more actual results came through.
The SNP are predicted to get 46 MPs – up from 35 two years ago – and the Lib Dems have gone into reverse on 11 after a dismal all-out Remain campaign.
Mr Corbyn’s dream of a Socialist Britain is now in ruins, with his time in charge of the party doomed to end in failure.
Labour’s expected tally of 203 would be worse than the showing by his hero Michael Foot, who was famously put to the sword by Thatcher with just 209 seat in 1983.
As the picture emerged, Mr Johnson tweeted a ‘thank you’ to ‘everyone across our great country who voted, who volunteered, who stood as candidates’.
Posting a picture of himself with workers carrying a ‘we love Boris’ sign, he said: ‘We live in the greatest democracy in the world.’
In an amazing piece of understatement, an ashen-faced shadow chancellor John McDonnell said the exit poll was ‘disappointing’ and blamed it on Brexit. ‘I thought it would be closer,’ he said.
‘The poll itself, I think it looks as though it’s Brexit dominated, a lot of this I think was Brexit fatigue, people just wanted it over and done with and it put Labour in a very difficult position.’
Speaking to BBC News, Mr McDonnell said: ‘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 Mr Corbyn’s leadership, 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.’
But Labour moderates were jubilant, with one source who had expected a narrow result telling MailOnline: ‘Never been so pleased to be wrong.’ Former Labour MPs said the ‘Great Leader’ should immediately resign along with his hard-Left clique.
Dame Margaret Hodge, who repeatedly condemned Mr Corbyn over the anti-Semitism that has been rampant in Labour since he took charge, said: ‘This is the utter failure of Corbyn & Corbynism. There is no other way of looking at it.’
Amid reports of ‘mega’ turnout and unprecedented levels of tactical voting by Remainers, Tories had become nervous that victory could somehow slip from their grasp, despite a slew of polls during the campaign having given them a double-digit advantage.
But the fears proved unfounded, as the party’s mantra of ‘get Brexit done’ swung previously rock-solid Labour supporters. And in the end turnout appears to have actually fallen by 1.49 per cent on the 2017 figure to jut over 67 per cent.
The pound immediately jumped 3 per cent against the US dollar on the news, as markets breathed a sigh of relief at the prospect of clarity on Brexit and no anti-business Labour government.
Mr Johnson could not hide his elation as he walked into CCHQ this morning with Carrie and aides in the early hours today
Without explicitly claiming victory, Mr Johnson tweeted a ‘thank you’ to ‘everyone across our great country who voted, who volunteered, who stood as candidates’
John McDonnell was visibly shaken by the exit poll during an appearance on the BBC. He said the numbers were ‘extremely disappointing’
Ian Levy, the mental health worker who won Blythe Valley for the Tories (pictured centre), said in his victory speech: ‘I would like to thank Boris.’
A rare setback for the Tories saw Cabinet minister Zac Goldsmith lose to the Lib Dems in the heavily Remain seat of Richmond Park this morning
Home Secretary Priti Patel said the government would move quickly to ‘get Brexit done’ before Christmas by introducing legislation in Parliament if it is returned to power.
Fist-pumping Sturgeon celebrates rival’s defeat
SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon was being filmed as the result was declared in East Dunbartonshire
Nicola Sturgeon was caught on camera wildly celebrating Lib Dem leader Jo Swinson’s defeat.
The SNP leader was being filmed as the result was declared in East Dunbartonshire.
Ms Swinson lost her seat by around 150 votes, capping a dismal night for the pro-Remain party.
Mr Johnson was fighting for votes right to the last minute, tweeting to urge supporters to cast their ballots as he campaigned in his Uxbridge and South Ruislip seat.
And his strategy of focusing relentlessly on Brexit looks like being completely vindicated, as Labour faces a brutal rout.
After the Blythe Valley result was declared, flabbergasted ex-chancellor George Osborne said: ‘We never thought we’d get Blythe Valley. We had hopes in a place called Tynemouth, which we might come to later.
‘There’s a Conservative candidate in Hexham who I heard a couple of days ago saying ‘we are going to win Blythe valley’ and I thought he was always a bit optimistic, this guy. But he was right and that is a pretty spectacular win.’
Ian Levy, the mental health worker who won the seat for the Tories, said in his victory speech: ‘I would like to thank Boris.’
The first big Labour scalp claimed by the Tories was shadow environment secretary Sue Hayman, who lost Workington.
Labour’s Gareth Snell predicted his own defeat ahead of the result in another former stronghold, Stoke-on-Trent Central, saying: ‘I’m going to lose badly and this is the start of 20 years of Tory rule.’
All the Tory Remainer rebels who stood as independents, including David Gauke and Dominic Grieve, failed to win seats.
And Labour defectors to the Lib Dems Chuka Umunna and Luciana Berger fell short.
On a dreadful night for the Lib Dems, they also did not manage to secure top target Cheltenham. Alex Chalk managed to defend the seat, which voted 57 per cent to Remain.
Boris Johnson’s partner Carrie Symonds tweeted: ‘Gutted to hear that @ZacGoldsmith hasn’t been re-elected in Richmond. We have lost a truly decent, hardworking MP.
‘I know I will continue to work with him to promote animal welfare and protect our oceans & environment. Zac is one of my heroes.’
After she was ousted from her East Dunbartonshire constituency, Ms Swinson was automatically barred from continuing as leader.
‘Let me say now, for millions of people in our country these results will bring dread and dismay and people are looking for hope,’ she said.
‘I still believe we as a country can be warm and generous, inclusive and open and that by working together with our nearest neighbours we can achieve so much more.
‘Liberal Democrats will continue to stand up for these values that guide our Liberal movement – openness, fairness, inclusivity. We will stand up for hope.’
As the breathtaking sequence of turnarounds continued, Tories secured swings of up to 20 per cent to take a wrecking ball to the ‘red wall’.
Meanwhile, in Northern Ireland the DUP was suffering a torrid time – with its Westminster leader Nigel Dodds losing his North Belfast seat to Sinn Fein after other Remain-backin parties gave them a clear run.
Mr Trump was clearly pleased with the boost for his ally, and quickly announced that he will step up the push for a TransAtlantic trade pact.
‘Congratulations to Boris Johnson on his great WIN! Britain and the United States will now be free to strike a massive new Trade Deal after BREXIT,’ the president said.
‘This deal has the potential to be far bigger and more lucrative than any deal that could be made with the E.U. Celebrate Boris!’
Labour former Cabinet minister Ed Balls suggested Mr Corbyn’s weak response to the Salisbury nerve agent outrage – urging the government to send the Novichok samples to Moscow for testing – was a big factor.
‘Salisbury was quite immediate in people’s minds and the terror attack in London,’ he told ITV.
‘This manifesto had a much bigger price tag than 2017 and I’m afraid the cumulation of nationalisations and spending commitments meant that lots of Labour voters were saying ‘does it add up and who is going to pay for it?
‘It wasn’t only about Brexit. It’s a line in the Corbyn team but it’s not going to wash at all.’
Former Labour home secretary Alan Johnson said the party’s losses would be down to Mr Corbyn’s unpopularity on the doorstep.
He said: ‘It’s Corbyn, it’s Corbyn. The Corbynistas will make an argument that victory is a bourgeois concept, that ‘the only goal for true socialists is glorious bloody defeat’.
‘And now we’ve just had another one. And there’ll be all the conspiracy theories thrown about. It’s Corbyn. We knew that in Parliament.
‘We knew he was incapable of leading, we knew he was worse than useless at all the qualities you need to lead a political party.’
In a furious attack on the left-win cabal that hijacked Labour, Mr Johnson said: ‘I want them out of the party. I want them gone. Go back to your student politics.’
A leaked copy of Labour’s so-called ‘lines to take’ document – prompts given to senior figures ahead of appearances on TV – sparked fury among many of the party’s candidates because they suggested people should solely blame Brexit.
Jacob Rees-Mogg saw off a Lib Dem challenge in his North East Somerset constituency despite spending much of the campaign in hiding after making comments about Grenfell during a radio interview
Shadow justice secretary Richard Burgon tried to blame Brexit for the Labour Party’s poor general election showing
Paul Bristow (pictured right being congratulated by fellow Tory MP Shailesh Vara) won back Peterborough for the Tories
Labour chairman Ian Lavery, who held on in Wansbeck with a much reduced majority, blamed Brexit for the disaster rather than the leader
Lord Buckethead seemed to be enjoying himself at the count in the PM’s Uxbridge and South Ruislip constituency today
The document said ‘this defeat is overwhelmingly down to one issue – the divisions in the country over Brexit, and the Tory campaign, echoed by most of the media, to persuade people that only Boris Johnson can ‘get Brexit done”.
But shadow Home Secretary Diane Abbott hinted that she wants Mr Corbyn to hang on.
‘This is clearly a bad night for Labour, which requires careful analysis. But it could be much worse than a bad night for all those who rely on our public services and the NHS. Which means we still need a leadership that fights for the many, not the few,’ she tweeted.
Labour chairman Ian Lavery, who held on in Wansbeck with a much reduced majority, blamed Brexit for the disaster rather than the leader.
‘The big difference is that in 2019 we promised a second referendum,’ he told he BBC. ‘And people are suggesting, quite rightly, why should there be a second referendum when they had a referendum in 2016. That’s the issue. It’s not Jeremy Corbyn. It’s Brexit, and ignoring democracy.’
Shadow cabinet minister Dawn Butler also dodged questions on whether Mr Corbyn should resign.
‘I think, it’s so early on the evening. I think we really have to wait, and then we really have to reflect quite seriously about where we go and the direction of travel for the Labour Party,’ she told Sky News.
Momentum chief Jon Lansmann argued that Mr Corbyn should not be ejected immediately.
‘I think Jeremy has to make those decisions himself. You know Jeremy has always been a reluctant leader, I don’t think he’ll overstay his welcome,’ he said.
‘But I think he should be able to make decisions. And I don’t think we should rush into these things. Christmas is not far away, I don’t think decisions really need to be taken about this until the New Year.’
A Conservative spokesman tried to dampen the jubilation after the exit poll – which forecast the result to within a few seats two years ago.
‘This is a projection, not a result, it’s important we wait to see the actual results when they come in,’ the spokesman said.
‘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. ‘
Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage claimed his decision to stand down in Tory-held seats was critical in delivering the victory for Mr Johnson
A Labour spokesman said: ‘We, of course, knew this was going to be a challenging election, with Brexit at the forefront of many people’s minds and our country increasingly polarised.
‘But Labour has changed the debate in British politics. We have put public ownership, a green industrial revolution, an end to austerity centre stage and introduced new ideas, such as plans for free broadband and free personal care. The Tories only offered more of the same.’
Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage claimed his decision to stand down in Tory-held seats was critical in delivering the victory for Mr Johnson.
Speaking to BBC News, Mr Farage said: ‘I can tell you that if we had stood in every seat in the country it would have been a hung parliament. ‘That would have been a disaster … I think the Liberal Democrats would have won an awful lot of seats.’
On Mr Johnson’s Brexit deal, Mr Farage said: ‘If the current treaty on the table with the political declaration passes unamended I can’t bring myself to support it.
‘Look, I’ve spent my political career trying to get Brexit, alright. We’re going to get Brexit. Are we going to get the right one? Maybe not.’
Arch-Remainer Hugh Grant was snapped looking disconsolate as he was shown the exit poll on a mobile phone.
The politically outspoken actor had been canvassing with Labour and Lib Dem candidates during the campaign and urged his fans to vote tactically to deny the Conservatives in marginal seats.
But as he tonight laid eyes on these parties’ woeful performance, the Love Actually star looked down-trodden with his wife Anna Eberstein.
In a short and sour admission of defeat, Grant tweeted: ‘There goes the neighbourhood,’ a reference to Britain now likely pulling out of the EU.
He joined a chorus of glum Remain celebrities who voiced their misery as the prospect of second Brexit referendum went up in smoke.
Going into today, Mr Johnson’s lead in the polls was narrowing and he hoped to secure a swathe of northern Labour seats to give the majority that eluded Theresa May in 2017 – when she won 318 seats to Labour’s 262.
But Labour sources had claimed its traditional vote was holding up. ‘It doesn’t feel like there’s any real move towards Johnson or away from Corbyn,’ one source said. ‘I think we could easily see almost exactly the same result as last time.’
However, another Tory fighting to keep a seat in the north east said they believed turnout was ‘good’ among their own supporters.
Another Conservative source agreed that turnout looked ‘mega’.
But they added: ‘No way to know if it’s really up or if people are just voting early because it’s winter and they don’t want to do it after work.’
Mr Johnson’s hopes had appeared to be put into the balance earlier as voters turned out in their millions to take part in the crucial election.
Constituencies across the country reported the longest queues seen at polling stations for years today, sparking fears of a Remainer ‘youthquake’ that could derail attempts to leave the EU.
Thousands snaked around the block outside schools, village halls, churches, pubs and other community buildings in the wet and cold to exercise their democratic right at the UK’s 50,000 polling stations from 7am.
Election officials were frantically counting the votes in Strangford as the drama developed tonight
Counting is carried out at Sunderland Tennis Centre, with the Tories looking to smash Labour’s ‘red wall’ and redraw the political map
Michelle Dewberry (pictured tonight) has been fighting to win Hull West & Hessle for the Brexit Party
Boris Johnson was out campaigning in his Uxbridge and South Ruislip seat hours before the polls closed
The Prime Minister tweeted (left) appealing for Conservative supporters to go out and cast their ballots. Mr Farage (right) said a win for the Mr Johnson was better than ‘Marxist Corbyn’
Britain’s Prime Minister and Conservative Party leader Boris Johnson holds his dog Dilyn after voting in the general election at Methodist Central Hall in London today
Jeremy Corbyn gives a thumbs up after casting his vote in the 2019 General Election at the polling station at Pakeman Primary School in Islington, north London
Boris Johnson’s poll guru is serenaded at Tory HQ after shock exit poll result is announced
Isaac Levido was director of politics and campaigning in Conservative Campaign Headquarters – and the undisputed chief of the Tory campaign
He is little known outside Westminster, but 35-year-old Australian Isaac Levido will win the lion’s share of the credit for Boris Johnson’s election triumph.
Softly spoken and sporting a black beard, Mr Levido was director of politics and campaigning in Conservative Campaign Headquarters – and the undisputed chief of the Tory campaign. After the results of the exit poll were revealed, staff at the party’s Westminster HQ chanted ‘Oh, Isaac Levido’ – mocking the tribute to Jeremy Corbyn which used to be sung by Labour supporters.
A senior Tory source said: ‘Isaac showed real leadership throughout the campaign – he never panicked, lifted spirits on difficult days and had a laser focus on the end result.
‘He quickly gained the trust of everyone around him and deserves all the plaudits for an extremely well-run and disciplined campaign.’ Under Mr Levido’s plans the Tories targeted 50 swing seats and sought to defend another 50, under plans to secure a ‘functional’ majority.
High turnout is traditionally seen as a sign that Labour has managed to mobilise its younger and working class voters, who have in the past been less likely to make the journey to the ballot box.
However, the exit poll and the first seats to declare suggest that if the turnout was strong it has failed to help Labour.
There have been claims that the crowds suggest that the turnout for the first December general election since 1923 could be the highest since Clement Atlee and Sir Winston Churchill fought to be PM in the 1950s.
Turnouts dropped in the UK following Tony Blair’s landslide victory in 1997 but have started to rise again in recent national votes.
It has been an anxious few days for Mr Johnson, as his lead was whittled down to its narrowest of the whole election.
One poll yesterday estimated there were just five points separating the parties – although others showed a much wider gap.
Mr Johnson’s party was on 41 per cent but Mr Corbyn’s leftwingers had made up ground and are now on 36 per cent, according to Savanta ComRes for the Telegraph.
After six weeks on the campaign trail, Mr Johnson gave his dog Dilyn a big kiss and voted early at the nearest polling station to No 10 Downing Street.
But he was without his partner Carrie Symonds on the biggest day of his political life, after she chose to cast her ballot for the Tories in Richmond.
The Tory leader voted at the Methodist Central Hall next to Westminster Abbey rather than in his Uxbridge constituency – a highly unusual move because Prime Ministers traditionally vote where they are standing as candidates.
Mr Corbyn, accompanied by his wife Laura, also voted early in his ultra-safe Islington North constituency.
As the polls opened Mr Johnson tweeted: ‘Today is our chance to get Brexit done. Vote Conservative’.
Meanwhile Mr Corbyn wrote on social media: ‘Vote Labour to save our NHS, to bring about real change and create a country that works for the many, not the few’.
Millions of voters faced inclement weather with torrential rain and ice across vast swathes of the country before the polls closed at 10pm.
A major YouGov poll on Tuesday predicted a 28-seat Tory majority – the largest since 1987 – but pollsters said the situation was so volatile that Britain could face another hung parliament.
A No 10 spokesman confirmed that Mr Johnson had taken the unusual step to register to vote in Downing Street rather than his Uxbridge constituency.
‘The Prime Minister was proud to vote for Nickie Aiken, the fantastic Conservative candidate for the Cities of London and Westminster, who is committed to voting for the PM’s Brexit deal and getting Brexit done by January 31,’ she added.
Members of the public in a number of London constituencies have had to queue around street corners to vote in some of the busiest conditions they have seen.
‘I’ve voted at the same station and time for eight years, but have never had to queue before,’ said Craig Fordham, 45, from Putney, who had to wait for 15 minutes.
Chris Schofield queued for 20 minutes in the Bermondsey and Old Southwark constituency.
‘It’s about 20 times busier than it was in 2017, and for the locals and Euro elections,’ the 27-year-old consultant told PA.
‘Atmosphere is very London: orderly queueing and no-one is talking to each other!’
Mr Schofield said there were over 70 voters waiting outside, adding that there were at least three officers working at the station but only one taking addresses from voters.
Asked why he thought there were so many queuing, he said: ‘I think it’s the election of a lifetime for many of us.’
Alixe Bovey said she was queueing for 35 minutes in the Streatham constituency.
Sharing a photo of the queue outside her local station, she tweeted: ‘In 20 years of voting in Streatham Hill, always at about this time of day, I have never encountered a queue of more than six or seven people.
‘What is going on. The tailback is right up the road now.’
Ms Bovey said: ‘No idea what it means in my constituency – I’m in a super safe Labour seat.’
Voters in Bermondsey, south east London, faced difficulty getting to one polling station after an apparent burst water water main caused flooding in the road around it.
Hannah Tookey, who waded through the water to cast her vote, tweeted: ‘It was too deep to wade through the middle, even in wellies.’
Another voter, Graham Kings, was prevented from voting by the flooding in Bermondsey.
Labour’s Diane Abbott started off on the wrong foot today – as she appeared to go out campaigning with odd shoes on the wrong feet. At the end of a long and gruelling winter election campaign she turned out to support Labour colleague Meg Hillier in her neighbouring East London constituency of Hackney South. But Twitter users quickly spotted something was up when Ms Hillier posted a picture of them online. Ms Abbott appeared to be wearing two left shoes
Starting off on the wrong foot! Labour’s Diane Abbott is so keen to cast her vote she appears to have rushed out wearing MISMATCHING shoes
Labour’s Diane Abbott started off on the wrong foot yesterday – as she appeared to go out campaigning with odd shoes on the wrong feet.
At the end of a long and gruelling winter election campaign she turned out to support Labour colleague Meg Hillier in her neighbouring East London constituency of Hackney South.
But Twitter users quickly spotted something was up when Ms Hillier posted a picture of them online.
Ms Abbott appeared to be wearing two left shoes.
But Twitter users quickly spotted something was up when Ms Hillier posted a picture of them online
Ms Abbott appeared to be wearing two left shoes from separate pairs of black loafers
They were at a supermarket in east London this morning
Ms Abbott speaking ahead of the election yesterday
One person wrote: ‘Mmmmm well done Dianne Abbott. Odd shoes and one of the shoes is on the wrong foot.’
Another said: ‘Two left shoes and odd shoes too!’
Ms Abbott, a close ally of Jeremy Corbyn, is defending a Labour majority of 35,000 in her Hackney North and Stoke Newington seat.
Ms Abbott has has a low key election campaign and has seldom featured at large events with Jeremy Corbyn.
He was greeted by a protester dressed as Elmo, a character from children’s TV programme Sesame Street as he arrived to cast his vote in north London this morning.
The woman was restrained by security guards as she tried to approach Mr Corbyn as he entered the polling station.
As the woman in fancy dress argued with security and police, Mr Corbyn said: ‘Hello guys, can we stop the arguments please.’
He later posed for photographs with a small number of supporters and well-wishers outside the polling station at Pakeman Primary School in Islington with his wife Laura Alvarez.