Boris Johnson’s gamble on a snap election looks set to have paid off with the Tories set to win a big majority, according to an exit poll.
The BBC/Sky/ITV poll puts the Conservatives on 368 seats, 42 above the 326 needed for an absolute majority in the Commons.
Labour is predicted to win just 191 seats, the Scottish National Party 55, Liberal Democrats 13, the Brexit Party none, Plaid Cymru three and Greens one.
This would give the Tories a majority of 86.
The pound soared against the dollar and the euro as the exit poll emerged.
If borne out by the actual results, Mr Johnson will return to Number 10 on Friday in a position to easily drive through his Brexit deal and take the UK out of the European Union next month.
The result – the largest majority for a Conservative leader since Margaret Thatcher in the 1980s – would be seen as a triumph for his tightly-controlled campaign, which was largely gaffe-free until the final week.
Thank you to everyone across our great country who voted, who volunteered, who stood as candidates. We live in the greatest democracy in the world. pic.twitter.com/1MuEMXqWHq
— Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) December 12, 2019
Mr Johnson entered the election without a majority – having just 298 Tory MPs – after some quit the party and he withdrew the whip from others when they rebelled over Brexit.
The result would, however, be a huge set-back for Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn.
Labour, who had 243 MPs when Parliament was dissolved last month, is forecast to lose 52 seats.
Such a poor result would be the worst for Labour in terms of seats since 1935 and would put extreme pressure on Mr Corbyn to stand down after losing a second UK General Election in a row.
In a tweet sent as the polls closed, Mr Corbyn thanked activists.
“You’re the heart of our party, and you have campaigned tirelessly to win so we can a build a fairer country. I thank you all.”
I promised @UKLabour would run the biggest people powered campaign our country has ever seen.
— Jeremy Corbyn (@jeremycorbyn) December 12, 2019
And you, our members and supporters, have done just that.
You're the heart of our party, and you have campaigned tirelessly to win so we can a build a fairer country.
I thank you all. pic.twitter.com/Pic0pw9FCU
Shadow chancellor John McDonnell said the exit poll was “extremely disappointing”.
And shadow international trade secretary Barry Gardiner said it represented a “devastating result for us” and “all the people who were really needing a Labour victory to improve their lives”.
Asked if his party needed a new leader, Mr Gardiner said: “These are things that will be discussed by the leadership of the party in the next few days.”
The Tories appeared cautious after the exit poll but said a functioning majority “would mean we can now finally end the uncertainty and get Brexit done”.
A Conservative spokesman 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.”
Labour said it was “too early to call the result” but claimed the party had “changed the debate in British politics”.
A party 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.”
Exit poll suggests majority for Conservatives
Polling stations have now closed in the UK general election and Boris Johnson’s gamble on a snap election looks set to have paid off with the Tories likely to win a sizeable majority, according to an exit poll.
The first results are expected after 11pm tonight with the final one likely to arrive around 10am tomorrow.
An exit poll for BBC, ITV and Sky tonight predicts the Conservatives will win 368 seats, 50 more than at the 2017 election, while Labour will get 191 seats.
Conservatives set to win majority in UK general election, according to exit poll for BBC, ITV and Sky#BBCElection https://t.co/Dddr2JHn8W pic.twitter.com/9zLYsTS8t5
— BBC Breaking News (@BBCBreaking) December 12, 2019
The Tory majority is projected to be 86, the biggest majority for a Conservative government since 1987.
Lib Dems are expected to get 13 seats, the SNP 55 and none for the Brexit Party.
The exit poll was conducted by Ipsos Mori at 144 polling stations, with 22,790 interviews.
Brexit was the dominant factor in the election with the Tories promising to "get Brexit done" by the end of January, while Labour pledged another referendum on the UK's membership of the European Union.
Boris Johnson tweeted: "Thank you to everyone across our great country who voted, who volunteered, who stood as candidates. We live in the greatest democracy in the world."
A Labour Party spokesman said: "It's only the very beginning of the night, and it's too early to call the result.
"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."
If the exit poll is correct, Labour is on course for its worst performance at a general election in terms of seats since 1935.
The pound soared against the dollar and the euro as the exit poll predicted a Conservative majority.
A pound was up 1.85% to 1.342 dollars and up 1.09% to 1.202 euros within minutes of the announcement.