Prime minister Boris Johnson on Friday (13) said the British people had given his Conservative government a "powerful new mandate" to deliver Brexit and unite the country.
Exit polls and early results suggest the Tories are on course for a historic victory in Thursday's election, in which Johnson won his own seat in Uxbridge, west of London, with an increased majority.
Meanwhile, Jeremy Corbyn on Friday said he would not lead Britain's main opposition Labour party at the next general election, after predictions of a crushing defeat at nationwide polls.
"I will not lead the party in any future general election campaign," the veteran socialist, 70, said after winning his north London seat for the 10th time.
Corbyn went into Thursday's election offering a radical leftist programme for social change, including huge investment in public services, as well as a second referendum on Brexit.
But he was criticised for his handling of allegations of anti-Semitism within Labour and supposed sympathies with proscribed terrorist groups.
An exit poll forecast Labour would lose 52 seats to secure 191 in the 650-seat parliament -- the party's poorest result since 1935.
The forecast put Johnson's Conservatives on 368 seats, giving the party a majority of 86.
Senior Labour figures have indicated Corbyn was responsible for the heavy losses. He admitted in an acceptance speech the results were "very disappointing".
But he stopped short of saying he would stand down immediately, instead announcing he would lead the party during a "process of reflection" into what went wrong.
Corbyn defended his "manifesto of hope" and maintained they were "extremely popular" during the campaign. But his message had been eclipsed by Brexit.
"Brexit has so polarised and divided debate in this country, it has overridden so much of a normal political debate," he added.
"I recognise that has contributed to the results that the Labour party has received this evening all across this country."
(AFP)
During the hearing, Clifford denied all the charges except for the rape charge, which was added to the indictment at the session. (Photo: Hertfordshire Police /Handout via REUTERS)
Man pleads not guilty to murder of BBC presenter's family
A 26-year-old man has pleaded not guilty to charges of murdering the wife and two daughters of BBC sports commentator John Hunt in a crossbow and knife attack.
Kyle Clifford, who also faces charges of rape, appeared via video link at Cambridge Crown Court on Thursday.
Clifford, arrested in July after a manhunt, is charged with three counts of murder, one count each of rape and false imprisonment, and two counts of possessing offensive weapons – a 10-inch knife and a crossbow.
During the hearing, Clifford denied all the charges except for the rape charge, which was added to the indictment at the session.
He is expected to enter a plea for that charge at a later date.
The victims were Carol Hunt, 61, wife of horseracing commentator John Hunt, and their daughters Louise, 25, and Hannah, 28.
An earlier hearing revealed that Louise had been found tied up and that both she and her sister had been shot with a crossbow, while their mother had been stabbed with a knife.
The fatal attack occurred at the family’s home in Bushey, a commuter town near Watford, northwest of London.
(With inputs from AFP)