If the forecasts from the by-election polls are correct, it would be a great victory for the Conservatives and Prime Minister Boris Johnson: According to the exit polls, the Tories won a clear majority and 86 seats ahead of Labor - they have an absolute majority with 369 out of 650 seats. Tory boss Boris Johnson thanked right after the first forecast - and called to the party.
"We live in the greatest democracy in the world," he wrote on Twitter, thanking voters, volunteers and candidates. In an email to party members, he invited his followers to celebrate. "I hope you have fun at a party tonight," writes Johnson. "You carried the campaign, we could not have done it without you."
Thank you to everyone across our great country who voted, who volunteered, who stood as a candidate. We live in the greatest democracy in the world. pic.twitter.com/1MuEMXqWHq
- Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) December 12, 2019Labor finance expert John McDonnell has described the projected election outcome as "extremely disappointing" for his party. "If the result is close to what the forecast says, that's extremely disappointing," said McDonnell. He did not rule out personal consequences, including as far as the future of party leader Jeremy Corbyn is concerned.
"If the results are there, we'll make reasonable choices," he said when asked in the BBC interview if party leader Jeremy Corbyn and himself should take their hat off. The decisions, as always, must be made in the best sense of the party, McDonnell said.
"Clarity is good"
The election was heavily influenced by Brexit. The Labor Party was not sufficiently satisfied with their concern to put issues such as health policy in the election campaign. "People apparently wanted to get Brexit done," McDonnell said, taking advantage of what Boris Johnson advertised during the campaign, "Get Brexit Down."
The Scottish Prime Minister Nicola Sturgeon has expressed concern over the forecast outcome of the parliamentary election. The result was "bitter" for the country, she wrote on Twitter. At the same time she was pleased about the strong performance of her Scottish National Party SNP. According to forecasts, the SNP won 55 of the 59 constituencies in Scotland. Sturgeon should interpret this as a mandate for a second independence referendum for the country part.
EU representatives have welcomed the clarity of the forecasts, "clarity is good," says an EU diplomat. "If the result is confirmed, we assume that (Johnson) will do what he said - Brexit at the end of January," says a French diplomat.
Left-wing leader Bernd Riexinger expects a period of uncertainty for the British. "The disastrous policies of the Tories are likely to move to the next round," he writes.
SPD MEP Udo Bullmann sees the likely victory of the conservatives in Brexit on January 31st. "I'm sorry that people in Britain are going to pay the bill," he tweets. "We will have to prevent tax havens and dumping competition on our doorstep." His SPD colleague Katarina Barley calls for the closest possible relations with Britain after Brexit.