Hung parliament puts pressure on May

British prime minister Theresa May has lost her majority in the Commons after a general election that left a hung parliament and the possibility of a new election this summer and, according to Nigel Farage, a new Brexit referendum.

Latest predictions suggest the Tories will win 318 seats, short of an absolute majority of 326, with Labour on 261, the SNP (who lost heavily in Scotland) 35 and the Lib-Dems 12.

As sitting prime minister, Mrs May will have an opportunity to form a new government with possible support from Northern Ireland’s 10 DUP MPs – although many political analysts say her chances of remaining as party leader are slim after her unforced election gamble failed.

Anti-Brexit Tory MP Anna Soubry, who narrowly held on to her seat in Broxtowe in Nottinghamshire, called on Mrs May to resign, saying she had run a “disastrous campaign” with a “deeply flawed” manifesto.

Mrs May said this morning the UK needed "stability". While she can try to put together a new coalition, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn is also entitled to try to put together enough votes to create a majority – and if neither can win the confidence of the Commons when it meets on June 13 there is the possibility of a new election.

UKIP failed to win any MPs in the election and took just 1.8% of the vote. Former UKIP leader Nigel Farage, who was not standing, said Mrs May had put Brexit at risk.

Saying “we may be looking down the barrel of a second [EU] referendum”, he added that if Mr Corbyn put together a coalition “then Brexit is in some trouble”.

Speaking to the BBC, he said: We’ve triggered Article 50, I thought it was all done. Mrs May went for the big majority, she was found out on this campaign and what’s remarkable about Corbyn’s achievement is he’s getting Remainers in London voting for him and Ukip voters around the rest of the country voting for him too.”

Political analysts on both sides of the Channel have told Connexion that a hung parliament could mean a hard Brexit is more likely.