Tories set for huge wins in Kent and across Britain
05:44, 13 December 2019
updated: 13:15, 13 December 2019
The Conservatives are on course to win their biggest share of the vote in a generation.
Boris Johnson will remain as Prime Minster with his party projected to win more than 360 seats.
Jeremy Corbyn has announced he will be stepping down as Labour looks likely to record its worst results in decades.
And in a further shock, Lib Dem chief Jo Swinson has lost for her East Dunbartonshire seat to the Scottish National Party.
It looks like an almost clean sweep for the Conservatives in Kent, with only Canterbury going to Labour.
Rosie Duffield, who won the seat in 2017, held on with a majority of 1,836 over Tory candidate Anna Firth.
Mr Johnson, who was returned to represent his Uxbridge and South Ruislip constituency, said the national vote gave him a mandate "to get Brexit done".
He said: "To change this country for the better and to unleash the potential of the entire people of this country."
"That is what we will now do, and if we are lucky enough to be returned as the exit poll seems to suggest then that work will begin, today."
Mr Corbyn told the crowd at the count in his Islington constituency that the result was "disappointing".
He said: "I will not lead the party into a future general election campaign.
“I will discuss with our party to ensure there is a process now of reflection on this result and on the policies that the party will take going forward.
“And I will lead the party during that period to ensure that discussion takes place and we move on into the future.”
The government's majority is expected to be the biggest since Tony Blair's Labour was re-elected for a second term in 2001.
It will be the Tories' best result since Margaret Thatcher's 1980s heyday and will allow them to deliver Brexit, a key campaign promise.
Ms Duffield told KMTV, which is broadcasting throughout the night until 10am, that she was delighted to be re-elected, thanking the people of Canterbury.
Also in Kent, Natalie Elphicke was elected to the Dover and Deal seat vacated by her husband Charlie.
Reacting to her win, she said: "My goodness. What an absolute stunning result, thank you.
"This is the clearest possible direction from the people of Dover and Deal to get Brexit done so that we can move forward as a country, to bring more jobs and the money we need to secure better healthcare."
In Medway, Tracey Crouch (Chatham & Aylesford), Kelly Tolhurst (Rochester & Strood) and Rehman Chisthi (Gillingham & Rainham) were all returned with big majorities.
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