Guernsey Press

Tory win offers ‘clarity to end Brexit chaos’

BORIS JOHNSON today led Conservatives to a sensational Brexit election win.

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Boris Johnson's Conservative Party was on course for a large majority. (Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire)

Election night in the UK was electrified by an exit poll which predicted the Tories getting 368 MPs – 50 more seats compared to the 2017 election – and an overall majority of 86. Labour in contrast was forecast to have 191 MPs, immediately putting Jeremy Corbyn under pressure to quit as party leader.

If correct, it would be the best result for the Tories since Margaret Thatcher’s 1987 victory. It would also all but confirm that the UK will leave the European Union next month – with Brexit legislation set to be tabled in parliament before Christmas – and consequential implications for Guernsey. The pound also saw a surge on the predicted Tory landslide.

Reacting to the exit poll, Guernsey’s most senior politician Deputy Gavin St Pier said: ‘While the exit poll provides the most up-to-date indication of the likely outcome I’m reluctant to comment specifically on its prediction until the formal results are declared. At that point I will happily provide more substantive comment.

‘Having said that, if – and I must stress if – the exit poll is right and the present UK government is returned with a substantial majority, that should mean greater stability in the UK with increased certainty in regard to the direction and progress of Brexit matters, including for the passage of relevant legislation through the UK parliament. That clarity would be welcomed after the political chaos in the UK in recent years.’

The P&R president added: ‘On a personal level, my congratulations to all of those who are successful in yesterday’s UK general election. The States of Guernsey looks forward to working closely with all newly-elected parliamentarians across all the parties.’

Early results suggested that Mr Johnson’s strategy of breaking through Labour’s so-called ‘red wall’ in its traditional Brexit-supporting heartlands was succeeding. The first big moment of the night saw the Conservatives win Blyth Valley in the North East, which had been in Labour hands since 1950.

Labour’s shadow chancellor John McDonnell said it would be ‘extremely disappointing’ if the exit poll proved to be correct. Signalling he and Mr Corbyn could quit, he added ‘appropriate decisions’ would be made in the morning in the best interests of their party.

In the exit poll, the Liberal Democrats were predicted to get 13 MPs.

The SNP were predicted to take 55 out of 59 seats in Scotland, setting up a potential battle with a new Johnson administration over a second independence referendum. Nigel Farage’s Brexit Party was not expected to win any seats but looked to have taken votes from Labour in its heartlands.