She was hoping for a huge majority. She lost what she had.
Theresa May called a snap election back in April in the hope (and strong expectation) of achieving a much increased majority, thus giving her a significant mandate to go into negotiations with the EU for a ‘Hard Brexit’.
Everything pointed to such a scenario playing out. Indeed, the right-wing Tory-supporting Daily Mail went with the headline ‘Crush the Saboteurs’, expecting the Labour opposition to be obliterated. After all, they were led by Jeremy Corbyn, who was seen as an ineffective sitting duck.
Life comes at you fast pic.twitter.com/BjxFvlTyrN
— Nooruddean (@BeardedGenius) June 9, 2017
But as the election campaign wore on, May started to wobble – badly. Corbyn, on the other hand, grew in stature as well as popularity. The polls started to close. Yet still, the Tories were expected to trounce their Labour foes with ease.
It hasn’t happend. In fact, rather than increasing their majority in parliament, the Tories have lost it altogether. They remain the biggest party after Thursday’s vote, but have fallen short of the majority of 326 needed to control the house.
The Conservative Party can no longer win a majority.
— Britain Elects (@BritainElects) June 9, 2017
If you've just woken forget that "strong & stable government. Britain's voted for a hung parliament. PM's survival in doubt @BBCr4today
— Nick Robinson (@bbcnickrobinson) June 9, 2017
It means we are left with a hung parliament, and now deals will need to be done to secure a workable government. It is expected that the Conservatives will enter into a deal with the DUP to gain the necessary seats, but it all leaves Theresa May’s position in a very fragile state.
There is talk and calls for the Prime Minister to resign. Corbyn has called for just that, with May stressing a need for ‘stability’. What exactly that means is anyone’s guess. The coming days be fascinating.
#GE2017 ends in a hung parliament. If you slept through it, here's what you need to know https://t.co/9To6Lwodo1 #BBCElection pic.twitter.com/lUUg1Q7GHX
— BBC News (UK) (@BBCNews) June 9, 2017
