Boris Johnson’s Brexit election gamble paid off spectacularly as the Conservative party secured a crushing victory, cutting a swath through Labour provincial heartlands.
The Conservatives won their biggest majority at Westminster since 1987, delivering an electoral earthquake that left the opposition parties Labour and the Liberal Democrats seeking new leaders. Mr Johnson described the result as a “powerful new mandate” to deliver Brexit.
Jeremy Corbyn announced he would not contest another election as Labour leader after the party’s “very disappointing” defeat, while Lib Dem leader Jo Swinson lost her East Dunbartonshire seat to the Scottish National Party.