UK’s Johnson wins in ‘Brexit Election’, Britain to leave EU next month

Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s ruling party appeared on course for a sweeping victory in Thursday’s snap election, an exit poll showed, paving the way for Britain to leave the EU next month after years of political deadlock.

The Conservatives were forecast to win a thumping 368 out of 650 seats in parliament — which if confirmed would be the party’s biggest majority in three decades — according to the survey published as polls closed.

The pound jumped by about two per cent against the dollar on the projected results of what all sides had painted as the most momentous election in Britain in a generation.

Johnson had campaigned relentlessly on the promise to “Get Brexit Done”, vowing to end years of political turmoil over Britain’s future that has weighed on the economy and sharply divided the nation.

With a large majority of MPs, he will be able to get the divorce deal he struck with Brussels through parliament in time to meet the next Brexit deadline of January 31.

Ratifying the Brexit deal would formalise the end of almost five decades of EU-UK integration, although both sides still need to thrash out a new trade and security agreement.

EU leaders meeting in Brussels for a summit were watching the result closely, where France’s European affairs minister, Amelie de Montchalin, was first to welcome the result.

“If the exit poll results are confirmed it should allow for a clear majority, something that has been missing in the United Kingdom for several years,” she said. — Agencies

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