What a shambles - the worst possible outcome.

May did very well didn't she? In terms of number of votes. She just miscalculated about Labour mobilising the youth vote. 'She'd have got away with it if it weren't for those meddling kids...'

Also, the polls might have done it again. I mean, last time round many voted Tory to stop Ed Milliband from being PM, as the polls (wrongly) predicted. So we got a Tory majority. This time round, a May landslide was (wrongly) a given acc to the polls, so maybe loads of Tory supporters didn't bother, but the young Labour supporters thought, hey, a chance for a second bite at the cherry here (or first bite if first-time voter). Maybe some just voted to reduce a Tory landslide - which never was on the table anyway.

I am (cautiously) optimistic that Labour will swing towards the centre between now and the next election. They will still be more left than they were pre-Corbyn, but not as much. The far left may be strengthened, but the public still voted to reject the current iteration of the Labour party, no matter how impressive Corbyn's late surge in popularity was.

The swing to the left following a Brexit delivered by a right wing coalition will be less drastic (and much less damaging) than a swing to the right following a Brexit delivered by a left wing coalition, in my opinion.

Ah well, this is the outcome I was dreading most. Good that finally the young turned out to vote, so fair play to Corbyn for inspiring them to do so. I fear for the country as a whole though in this scenario. Get ready to tighten belts even further.

Well done to JC for coming back and really shaming the conservatives and some of his own party members who had no faith in him.
May has been terrible throughout her campaign. Saying that I don't think she should resign.

Plus, they will join the Conservatives as scapegoats when the sunlit uplands of Brexit don't materialise.

And then phase 2 of this shambles will materialise, because this election has strengthened the hard left (which will be a disaster for whatever remains of the economy). Given labour were never going to win this, I was hoping that JC would be weakened and the labour moderates could regroup.

And remember that the Tories are very efficient at stabbing coalition partners in the back - so long term, it may turn out to be very bad news for the DUP. long term

The DUP are vile. And also implicated in some very dodgy deals involving the funnelling of "dark" money during the Brexit campaign....

BUT I agree with what AppalazianWalzing said:

They will have limited power in a coalition government, and the coalition would struggle to get right wing legislation through. All it would take is for a few progressive Conservatives to rebel to block legislation.
If the Conservatives had won a large majority, May would have been able to push all sorts through with ease (I was especially about the threat to our human rights). She can't do this now.
Plus, they will join the Conservatives as scapegoats when the sunlit uplands of Brexit don't materialise.

It was clearly reflected diminishing confidence in TM and her party.

And clearly reflected increased confidence in JC and his party.

No one is good enough. It's like we're yelling "SORT YOUR SHIT OUT"

I agree.

Yes Labour did well but as McDonnell has just admitted. They didn't do well enough.

The electorate basically said we don't trust any of you to govern outright.

I do worry about going back to 2 party politics though.

The 2 main parties had a huge vote share.

The Tories vote share for example was the same as Blair had when he got his landslide.

Honestly I have given up politics here. NI is so complex and nothing ever changes.
I am however intrigued to know what DUPs negotiations will be.

Regarding the DUP - They took their sweet time to reject the endorsement from the paramilitaries who warned people off voting Alliance.

Bearing in mind they'd shot and killed a man holding his toddler in a Sainsbury's car park not long before. Admittedly he was also a loyalist paramilitary but he was holding his 3 yr old son

Don't know much about the DUP but I gather we should be afraid.

I think a coalition could actually work pretty well. Brexit will have a huge impact on border control in Northern Ireland. It's not going to happen but brexit with coalition from Scotland (SNP will never do this which I think is a shame for the purpose of the UNITED Kingdom), Wales or Ireland would be a good way forward. It also means the Tory government will have stops to the heavy right wing decisions which will hopefully see a more empathetic social and health care system. Id like to stop seeing the back biting etc and go though the next very difficult few years as a unified country who respects the political difference of others but works together for the best outcome. Labour party is to much of a shot show. I think they have some really good ideas but I doubt their ability to work as a group.

Let's make the most of the crap instead of fighting over it! Theresa May leaving now is an appalling idea. The party needs to make the decision of who leads them!

The public does not agree with you that Corbyn is an incompetent leader OP.

This. In spades. Based on what evidence? If the Labour Party can get their act together and recognise his popularity then who knows what might happen when we next go to the polls. (Soon, is my prediction.)

She was arrogant and it's been her downfall

Chestnuts - I was just thinking of posting the same as you. My first thoughts were it's a shambles. But maybe it's good if it means no more agenda of hard brexit and austerity.

Wow. Didn't see that one coming with the DUP being kingmakers

On one hand, they're evolution denying anti gay marriage bigots but on he other, it's the only way the government is going to be made to give a toss about border issues for Brexit.

Gutted for Naomi Long.

My last post should have said "don't NOT care"
Why would Boris want the job any more now than he did last time

I feel more upbeat than I've done in a long time (I voted for neither main party). Am hoping this means no hard brexit and a change of direction from austerity. I think a Tory landslide would have been a disaster- that small cabinet of incompetent dictators would have run riot in ruining this country.

the English are in for a shock when they read up about the dup. no to gay marriage/anti choice/RHI scandal/probrexit even though it going to cause so many problems here but will keep the foreigners out/the Brexit ad they run paid for by someone from Saudi Arabia didn't care just wanted the money/nama scandal/general hatefulness.
They're a great bunch of people

TM calling an election was a disaster for Britain

He actually got it. Don't think they will do that this time.

They might and it might happen. An election is about more than Brexit. The result is all about brexit.

As a brexiteer who didn't vote conservatives this time. I probably would have too if it went to vote again if it becomes clear the election is actually all about brexit. I'm a safe tory seat so a protest vote here wouldn't change much might if people feel less safe to protest in marginals.

also Scotland move from SNP to conservative shouldn't be underestimated

Also conservatives fucked up this election from beginning to end. Jeremy Corbyn got it right but who's to say conservatives would misjudge mood again.

Personally I hope TM pushes through a minority government (although she is a joke). Brexit still happens (although Britain probably won't come out of it as well) but they've enough opposition seats to moderate many of the worse conservative excesses

The people have spoken though. The country as a whole are not happy with anything going on in our ridiculous politics at the moment so a hung parliament is actually saying exactly that to the politicians. No one is good enough. It's like we're yelling "SORT YOUR SHIT OUT"

eyestightshut that's brillant

So, can someone please explain to me how this puts us in a stronger bargaining position with Europe

as you guess, it really truly doesn't! The EU is now talking about delaying the start of negotiation - for now.