British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Friday won the historic UK General Election as his Conservative Party crossed the 326-mark required for a majority in Parliament, marking a victory for his “Get Brexit Done” message and setting the UK on course to leave the European Union (EU) in the New Year.
Johnson, who won his own seat in London's Uxbridge and South Ruislip, hailed the projected win for his Conservative Party as a powerful new mandate to move forward with his deal to leave the 28-member economic bloc.
"It does look as though this One Nation Conservative government has been given a powerful new mandate to get Brexit done and not just to get Brexit done but to unite this country and to take it forward,” said the 55-year-old Tory leader in his winner's speech after the results in his constituency were declared.
While stressing that the final tally is yet to be confirmed, he said the election would give him the chance to respect the democratic will of the British people, to change this country for the better and to unleash the potential of the entire people of this country.
The latest projections put the Johnson-led Conservatives at around 363, but the party can safely celebrate its victory as it comfortably crossed over the half-way finish line for the 650-member House of Commons.
The Opposition Labour is projected to get 203 seats, a disastrous performance for the party which resulted in leader Jeremy Corbyn announcing that he would be stepping down.
"It has been a very disappointing night for Labour... I will not lead the party in any future General Election campaign, said Corbyn, as he won his own seat in London's Islington North constituency.
Labour is set for a crushing defeat which is almost entirely likely to be blamed on Corbyn's leadership and his failure to take a clear stance on Brexit as well as counter growing allegations of anti-semitism within the party ranks.
A perceived anti-India stance since the party passed an emergency motion calling for international intervention in Kashmir is also likely to have swayed some of its traditional connect with Indian diaspora voters.