LONDON - As British Prime Minister Theresa May gambled her political future on calling a snap general election seven weeks ago, results from Thursday's election show that her party can not form a majority government.
With 647 out of 650 seats declared, the Conservatives won 316 seats, but failed to hit the 326-seat threshhold for majority. Labour won 261 seats.
If the Conservatives eventually have to forge a coalition government, which will bring more uncertainties to British politics, they can still rely on the support of Ulster Unionists party of Northern Ireland, which is projected to win eight seats.
Experts said exit polls gave a strong indication that the election is a significant blow for May as losing the majority will inevitably reduce her authority in a future government. There are calls for her to step down.
Patrick Dunleavy, professor of politics at the London School of Economics (LSE) said Friday morning he didn't anticipate the actual results of the election to be "strikingly different" from what the exit poll suggested, adding, however, it is unlikely that May will either resign or be deposed as Conservative party leader amid ongoing Brexit process.
If May does quit Number 10 Downing Street, her 11-month tenure as prime minister would be the shortest in Britain in almost a century.
"I would think it is very unlikely. Most British prime ministers' careers end in disaster, but this is very quick and I don't think May is a give-up type of person," he said. (Xinhua)