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Friday 13 December 2019 9:28 am  |  Updated:  Friday 13 December 2019 12:17 pm

General Election results: Top five takeaways

By: Stefan Boscia

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Election
Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his partner Carrie Symonds enter Downing Street as the Conservatives celebrate a sweeping election victory on December 13, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Peter Summers/Getty Images)

Yesterday’s election was truly historic as the Conservatives consigned Labour to its worst electoral defeat since 1935.

However, there’s no need to fear if you did not stay up the long hours to watch it.

Read more: Boris Johnson says NHS is top priority in victory speech
Read more: The City reacts: Businesses ‘eager for clarity’ after Boris Johnson’s election win

City PM has you covered with the five biggest takeaways from a dramatic night.

A Tory majority means Brexit by 31 January

BRITAIN-VOTE-BREXIT
Conservative frontbencher Michael Gove speaker at today’s post-electoin rally. (Photo by Ben STANSALL / AFP) (Photo by BEN STANSALL/AFP via Getty Images)

With all but one seat declared, the Conservatives have won 364 seats, Labour 203, the Scottish National Party (SNP) 48 and the Liberal Democrats 11.

The landslide victory gives the Tories a large parliamentary majority, clearing the way for Boris Johnson to pass his Brexit deal with great ease.

That means the UK will leave the EU by 31 January 2020 as promised throughout the campaign.

The historic victory also gives Johnson the biggest Tory majority since Margaret Thatcher and makes him the most powerful prime minister since Tony Blair.

Electoral map redrawn

Labour’s northern “red wall” was breached by the Conservatives in the election. Credit: Brythones/Author under Creative Commons licence

The path to the huge victory came thanks to an avalanche of votes from traditional Labour heartlands in the Midlands and the North.

Many seats turned from red to blue for the first time in 100 years, or in some cases the first time ever, as Brexit voters turned on Labour.

Sedgefield, Great Grimsby, Bassetlaw, Blythe Valley, Darlington, Workington, Bishop Auckland, the list goes on.

It meant that the party’s so-called “red wall” was breached, leaving Labour without its working class base.

The Conservatives will now work on keeping these blue collar voters as Tory supporters into the future and becoming the permanent party of the working class.

Corbyn to step down

Jeremy Corbyn Attends Islington North Count And Declaration
Corbyn said he will not stand as party leader at the next General Election, however he did not give any firm commitment of when he would step down. (Photo by Leon Neal/Getty Images)

From 10pm when the combined BBC, ITV and Sky News exit poll was released it became clear that Jeremy Corbyn’s four-year reign as Labour leader was all but over.

Read more

What if Andy Burnham had become Labour leader in 2015?

Andy Burnham campaigns to be Labour leader, 2015.

Corbyn said he will not stand as party leader at the next General Election, however he did not give any firm commitment of when he would step down.

Speaking after he retained his Islington North seat, he said: “I will lead the party during that period to ensure that discussion takes place and we move on into the future.”

The race to replace him has now begun.

Jo Swinson loses her seat and quits as Lib Dem leader

BRITAIN-VOTE-BREXIT
Britain’s Liberal Democrat leader Jo Swinson reacts as she speaks on stage after losing her seat at the East Dunbartonshire count centre in Bishopbriggs, north of Glasgow. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP) (Photo by PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images)

Jo Swinson started the campaign talking up her chances as being the next prime minister, however it ended in humiliation.

Swinson had previously lost her East Dunbartonshire seat in 2015 to the SNP, before winning it back in 2017.

The marginal constituency swung to the SNP once again, leaving Swinson without a seat.

She has now stepped down as leader of the Liberal Democrats and will be replaced by former energy secretary Ed Davey.

Calls for Scottish independence referendum grow louder

BRITAIN-VOTE-BREXIT
Scottish National Party (SNP) leader and Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon speaks with members of the media at the count centre in Glasgow. Photo by ANDY BUCHANAN / AFP) (Photo by ANDY BUCHANAN/AFP via Getty Images)

While Brexit looks finally to be settled, the battle for Scottish independence has gained new life.

The SNP cleaned up north of the border, winning 48 out of 59 seats and 45 per cent of the vote.

SNP leader Sturgeon immediately got out onto the front foot to say the result meant there was now a mandate for a second independence referendum.

Read more: Election live: Follow our live coverage of the 2019 General Election

Speaking to the BBC, Sturgeon said: “There is no doubt there is a mandate, I have a mandate to offer that choice.

“Boris Johnson has no right to take Scotland out of the EU and to block the Scottish people from deciding their own future.”

Read more

Billionaire Labour backer John Caudwell: I was misled by ‘disastrous’ Starmer

John Caudwell in a formal setting, possibly during a business meeting or public speaking event, conveying professionalism.

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