Westministenders: Strong and Stable Theresa Date with Destiny

[RedToothBrush]

WELLLLL

Its just before 2.00am.

So far its the YouGov model all the way. Still a long way to go but, the Cons are not getting the top of their target list and Labour are doing very well in seats they just 'shouldn't be'.

Corbyn is now favourite to take the poison chalice of Brexit, but they may not be the largest party yet.

This is looking right now like 1974 not 1983.

May's potted regardless. I look forward to her resignation speech. Its still entirely possible that our next government is a Tory Minority under another leader.

The LDs are having a rough night so far. They are loosing deposits all over the place as they are squeezed out. But they still might hold the balance of power yet. Though they are pledged not to go into coalition.

Another election in the autumn? Brexit delayed and going soft and squishy?

What happens if conservatives go into coalition with DUP? Are we still looking at hard Brexit? Is the modification of Brexit and remaining in the single market possible? Can I dream?

They have to either persuade ken and Anna or the awkward squad.

Tory civil war of last 20 years.

Newcastle under Lyme. Labour. By 30 votes.

Wasn't that the seat where they tried to turn hundreds of students away? Imagine if they'd managed to discourage just 30 more students!

Yep. One seat now very important to politics

Caroline Lucas in.

Just so happy that our local mp is out. She was nothing. Got the strong impression that she wasn't really political

343 days later and we've just had a national vote. The pm is probably going to resign for making such a poor decision and running such a terrible negative campaign which divided the country. The reason for election was to put the party interest ahead of the national one and try and end internal disputes.

It's like bloody groundhog day.

I think a DUP spokesman said earlier in the night that they would support a minority govt but not enter into formal coalition.

I suspect Rhythm is correct to say they would support a soft Brexit, and they do not want to limit their freedom of movement. Plus, there would be uproar in NI if they were to enter into a formal coalition with the Tories. It would play right into SF's hands with the Assembly mess still to sort out, coming up on marching season. It would look like direct rule only this time with the DUP pulling the strings in WM. It already looks very like that.

Lab gain Crewe and nantwich from cons
Plaid gain Ceredigion from LDs.

Been snoozing for the last two hours. Very glad Soubry got in. I know she's Tory but she fights party lines often if she feels it harms the country or her constituents.

Rumour that TM will make a speech at 10. (Coffee House Spectator blog)

Sophie Ridge Sky
Pretty clear Theresa May intends to try and stay on, saying now the UK needs stability. But will her party let her?

Ffs.

Oh my god Theresa May is the Arsenal Wenger of politics. Still wants to hang on.

Does anyone else think Gideon was gloating on ITV?

Laura k
Another updated prediction - Con 319, Labour 260, SNP 35, LD 14....

If she goes, whoever takes over is going to have to work pretty bloody hard to show they're not utterly incompetent. I'm glad that this election has highlighted how utterly inept May and her cabinet are.

Arsene not Arsenal.

BBC predicting two more for LDs?! Where's left? Richmond park and at Ives?!

Carl Bildt (former Swedish foreign minister)
✔
@carlbildt
Could be messy for the United Kingdom in the years ahead. One mess risks following another. Price to be paid for lack of true leadership.

Sophie in 't Veld (Dutch MEP, set up EP task force examining the UK’s treatment of EU nationals)
✔
@SophieintVeld
Cameron gambled, lost. May gambled, lost. Tory party beginning to look like a casino.

[both from Guardian website]

Got to hand it to the LDs. They are always the Positive team.
We knew locally we weren't going to get far. Brexit stance living in uber brexit land always against us. Aim was not lost deposit. We lost both. Positives: our share was consistent

Just seen Lucas not only got in but basically doubled her lead. Awesome stuff.

I wish they would just air Zac being smug and patronising so that I can go to sleep.....

Then there's whether the 1922 Committee would be happy with the things that would make the DUP happy though math.

Can't see Theresa having the balls to steer that ship.

Can't see her wanting to do another PMQs either.

Sophy ridge
TWO VOTES in it - SNP hang on to Fife North East despite Lib Dem challenge - never say your vote doesn't count!!

The DUP has some input into the 1922 Committee though..

But a soft border math?

Jane Bradley @ jane_bradley
Oh my god. It happened. It actually happened.

Ian Dunt @ iandunt
It's going to be really lovely seeing people's reactions as they wake up today.

Good morning people.
Think I'm going to try and get some sleep (again)
Night all.

Wow. So Theresa, that went well, didn't it. So, is JC still unelectable? Would Labour have done better with a Miliband style campaign? I expect the rest of the party will say so, now that he's delivered a 10% rise in the vote and 30 more seats?