Jeremy Corbyn calls for Theresa May to resign as Tories slump on 'nightmare' election night

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Jeremy Corbyn called for Theresa May to step down during a "catastrophic" election night for the Conservative Party.

Speaking after holding his seat in Islington North, Mr Corbyn launched a stinging attack on Mrs May and her "disastrous" campaign, saying voters had shown they wanted "hope for the future" and no more austerity.

In shock losses on election night, former Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg lost to Labour; SNP deputy leader Angus Robertson was outsed, and Financial Secretary to the Treasury Jane Ellison was defeated by her labour rival.

The pound plunged at 10pm after exit polls pointed towards a hung parliament, down over 1.5 per cent to 1.27 US dollars after it emerged that the Tories would not win enough seats to secure a majority.

Mr Corbyn called on Theresa May to resign, saying she should "go and make way for a government that is truly representative of this country".

Theresa May delivers her victory speech in Maidenhead
EPA

Labour veteran John McDonnell said he expected an imminent leadership challenge from Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson.

Asked whether he had a message for London, Mr Corbyn said: "I’m delighted with the support for Labour all across London tonight and indeed the support for Labour all across the country, I’m very proud."

He said: "Politics has changed. Politics isn't going back into the box where it was before. People have said they have had quite enough of austerity politics."

Jeremy Corbyn said the result in Islington and across the country were "incredible," adding he was proud and humbled at the people of Islington for a high turnout.

He went on to praise both the Labour party's campaign and police.

Theresa May waiting in Maidenhead for the result to be announced
Alastair Grant/AP

"People have had enough of austerity politics. I am very proud of the campaign that my party has run. My manifesto for the many, not the few. People voting for hope for the future and turning their backs on austerity.

"If there is a message, the Prime MInister called the election because she wanted a mandate. the mandate she got is lost seats, lost votes."

"I would think that's enough for her to go, actually."

Thumbs up: Corbyn leaves the counting centre after holding Islington North
Reuters

Theresa May returned as the Conservative MP for Maidenhead with 37,718 votes. Earlier in the night after a disastrous exit poll for the Conservatives, senior Tories insisted that polls have been "wrong in the past" and that it was still early in the night.

Mrs May did not respond to questions from reporters about her future as she arrived for the result.

After winning Theresa May said: "It is a huge honour and privilege to be elected as MP and I will continue to work as I have done over the period of time I have been your MP.

"We have yet to see the full picture emerging. At this time this country needs a period of stability. It will be incumbent on us to ensure we have that period of stability.

"As we look ahead and wait to see what the final results will be, the country needs stability and the Conservative party will ensure we will fulfil our duty so that we can all, as one country, go forward together."

After the exit poll emerged at 10pm, Evening Standard editor, George Osborne, described the night as potentially "catastrophic" for Mrs May.

Mr Osborne said, if right, the figures would put Mrs May's future as Conservative leader in doubt, saying on ITV: "Clearly if she's got a worse result than two years ago and is almost unable to form a government then she, I doubt, will survive in the long term as Conservative party leader."

Emily Thornberry said: “[The exit polls] have been right for the last 20 years or so, 30 years, so I think we're on the verge of a great result.

"Just think only seven weeks ago the hubris of the Prime Minister who was 20 points ahead, who wanted to have a blank cheque, she wanted to do whatever she wanted with the country with Brexit, with the economy, with our National Health Service and we said no and we meant it.

"And we put forward a popular manifesto with a leader of the party who has withstood the most extraordinary personal attacks, and has actually shown if anybody was strong and stable it was him."

Tom Watson used his victory speech to launch an attack on Mrs May. After being re-elected MP for West Bromwich East, Mr Watson said: "Theresa May's authority has been undermined by this election.

"She is a damaged Prime Minister whose reputation may never recover."

General Election Night 2017 - In pictures

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