This was a rolling live blog and is now closed.
08.00
Well, friends, what an interesting evening and morning. What is clear is that nothing much is clear. We're in a new political era in the UK. With Brexit negotiations set to start in 11 days, there is no clear indication of what the new government will look like. Labour outperformed expectations and the Conservatives did worse than expected, yet the chances are that the next Prime Minister will be a Tory and Labour's wait to get back into power will go on. In Scotland the SNP dropped at the expense of both Tories and Labour, while in Wales, the Tory surge didn't materialise - Labour gained seats. In Northern Ireland the centre ground continued to be vacated in favour of Sinn Fein and the DUP. A large number of Christians gained seats last night. We'll close the live blog here and will be posting articles throughout the day and the weekend on what happens next.
07.35
Here's an interesting first - Layla Moran becomes the first MP of Palestinian descent. She has been elected for the Liberal Democrats in Oxford West and Abingdon. Her mother is reported to be a Palestinian Christian from Jerusalem.
Layla Moran - First British MP of Arabic origin elected. Lib Dem in Oxford West & Abingdon. Her mother is a Palestinian Christian. https://t.co/gvDJSDGyPm
— Christian Today (@ChristianToday) June 9, 2017
07.25
A fascinating angle on the turnout is that of young people. Some reports now that it was 72 per cent which would be higher than many predicted.
72% of 18-25 year olds voted. They care, they act...and they're powerful...
— Jake Humphrey (@mrjakehumphrey) June 9, 2017
07.15
An extraordinary evening and now morning. A hung parliament, which only a couple of daring polls predicted. In Richmond Park, Zac Goldsmith regains the seat for the Conservatives from the Lib Dems' Sarah Olney.
07.00
Here's how things stand at 7am
The results so far, with seven seats still to come. Watch Sky News for the latest #GE2017 #GeneralElection https://t.co/K4qe34eeFg pic.twitter.com/XRC0mcOgLX
— Sky News (@SkyNews) June 9, 2017
06.50
Good morning to one and all. We're hearing Theresa May will speak in Downing Street this morning. Speculation rife as to what she will say - she is under huge pressure from some in her party to resign.
06.35
With the final few results still to roll in, we now know that the deal-making will begin. The Conservatives need to make a deal to remain in government, but their partners from 2010-15, the Liberal Democrats, have ruled out an arrangement. That means the most likely deal will be with the DUP - the Northern Irish Unionist party. Speculation is mounting as to whether Theresa May can stay as Prime Minister, and leader of the Conservative Party.
06.15
Dawn has broken and Westminster looks very different today. We are now in a bit of a lull where most of the results have been decalred but what they will mean is unclear. The Conservatives will be the biggest party, but the party cannot form a government on its own. Will a deal be done with the DUP? Will Theresa May still be Prime Minister? These questions are hangng with no obvious answers at this stage.
06.00
So, where are we at 6am? If your alarm has just gone and you're catching up, these are the key points:
- We are heading for a hung parliament.
- The Conservatives have lost seats and Labour have made gains.
- Big names to fall include Lib Dem Nick Clegg and The SNP's Alex Salmond.
- Theresa May is under pressure from some of her MPs but she has not yet indicated if she will resign.
05.40
A hung parliament now seems inevitable. No party will be able to form a government without leaning on the support of another smaller party. The favourite at this stage would seem to be Conservatives and the DUP, yet there are many other permutations.
Meanwhile, Alistair Burt, a Christian Conservative who's held ministerial positions in the past, has been re-elected in North East Bedfordshire.
05.25
Wes Streeting holds on to his seat in Ilford North. He's a Christian whose seat had looked vulnerable. Mary Creagh has also retained her seat in Wakefield. Another moderate Labour member, she's a Roman Catholic.
05.15
In Enfield Southgate, one of the most prominent Christian Conservative MPs, David Burrowes, has lost his seat to Labour. He has been a spokesperson for a number of Christian causes during his time in Parliament.
05.00
Barrow and Furness result – John Woodcock holds his seat
After narrowly holding off the Conservatives in 2015, Labour's John Woodcock retains his seat - despite being a fierce critic of Jeremy Corbyn. Woodcock, a member of Christians on the Left and the right flank of the Labour Party.
Meanwhile in Bermondsey and Old Southwark, Christian Labour member Neil Coyle retains his seat despite high profile Christian Lib Dem Simon Hughes challenging him.
04.45
As dawn breaks over the UK, it's very difficult to tell who will be Prime Minister this time next week. We may be in for a rollercoaster few days. The pundits and experts can't agree on whether Theresa May can hang on as Prime Minister - what is clear is that she is very damaged by tonight. Expect negotiations and horse trading to begin almost immediately - no doubt prayers required for all concerned!
04.25
An extraordinary night in British politics, there is no doubt. What is unclear is what happens next. There are so many moving pieces, including the SNP losig seats in Scotland, the triumph of the DUP and Sinn Fein in Northern Ireland and a modest revival for the Liberal Democrats. The biggest question of all is who can now form a government. Incumbent Theresa May will try to put together a coalition despite the prediction of her losing seats overall. Jeremy Corbyn's Labour will look to form its own coalition but can it rely on the SNP, the Lib Dems or any other party?
04.15
Chair of Christians on the Left Jonathan Reynolds has held his seat. Expect him to be a significant voice in the coming days. Other Christians in Labour are also going to be returning to the Labour benches including Cat Smith in Lancaster and Fleetwood - an early supporter of Jeremy Corbyn.
04.05
Looking at Northern Ireland tells a fascinating tale of polarisation. The more strident voices on either side are now dominent. The Democratic Unionist Party (10) and Sinn Fein (6) have both gained two seats so far. The more moderate voices of the Ulster Unionists and the SDLP are without a seat between them.
03.50
Thanks Harry! A sterling effort... Some big result coming in recently. Labour have retained two seats held by long serving Christian MPs - Exeter and East Ham held by Ben Bradshaw and Stephen Timms respectively. Meanwhile, Liberal Democrat Leader Tim Farron - whose Christian faith was under the spotlight during the campaign has held his seat, Westmoreland and Lonsdale, with a reduced majority.
03.43
Right my friends, I'm afraid that is me over and out. A pleasure to join you for an extraordinary, thrilling and heartstopping night.
Over to the more than capable hands of my colleague Andy Walton.
To finish, a lovely picture from polling day.
03.42
And Sarah Dickson, head of the Liberal Democrat Christian Forum (LDCF), has also been speaking to Christian Today.
'It's clear that there seems to be a reaction against the Theresa May was directing the country.
'What's very exciting to see is the high turnout of young people. I'm excited about what this could mean for our politics going forward.'
03.38
Gareth Wallace, head of the Conservative Christian Fellowship (CCF), has spoken to Christian Today from a count in Wales.
'Naturally some of the national results filtering in are disappointing where at least one CCF member has lost their seat.
'As a Unionist I am very proud of the Scottish Conservatives strong showing.
'The final result will have to wait for the very last result.'
03.35
Theresa May has won back her seat of Maidenhead. In her victory speech she says the country needs 'a period of stability'.
She says: 'If the Conservative party has won the most seats and most votes, it will be incumbent on it to ensure that stability.'
As Ed Balls points out on ITV, it is noticeable she doesn't say 'I will ensure that stability' but that the Conservative party will do so.
Eyeing an exit from Downing Street? Jump before you're pushed is the general advice.
03.23
David Lammy, another Christian Labour MP, has been returned as MP for Tottenham.
So so proud and humbled to be re-elected as MP for Tottenham with 40,249 votes, 82% share of the vote and a majority of 35,000. Thank you. pic.twitter.com/mDPlGk6F5E
— David Lammy (@DavidLammy) June 9, 2017 " data-caption="null" data-credit="null">03.18
We have the first ever Sikh member of parliament.
History made as first Sikh woman @Preet4Edgbaston elected as MP in Birmingham, Edgbaston. Credit to @UKLabour leadership for having vision pic.twitter.com/w6hjczuN2u
— Sikh Federation UK (@SikhFedUK) June 9, 2017 " data-caption="null" data-credit="null">03.09
Helen Goodman has narrowly held Bishop Auckland for Labour, one of the key marginals we were keeping an eye on.
She survived a strong Conservative swing in an area that largely backed Brexit and her majority has been slashed from 3,508 to just 506, making it one of the tightest marginals in the country.
Helen Goodman (Lab): 20,808
Christopher Adams (Cons): 20,306
Ciaran Morriseey (Lib Dem): 1,176
03.01
As one falls, another rises.
Vince Cable has won back his seat of Twickenham, ousting the Conservative's Tania Mathias.
02.56
Another in our list of marginal seats to watch is coming up.
Dagenham and Rainham – Jon Cruddas, majority of 4,980 – EXPECTED 0300
Dagenham and Rainham would not normally be considered vulnerable but it was one of the few seats in 2015 where UKIP came second with 12,850 votes.
Jon Cruddas, a Catholic, is an intellectual heavyweight of the left. Although from a very different line of thought than Jeremy Corybn, Labour will want him back.
Christian Today prediction: Labour hold.
02.46
Nick Clegg becomes another political titan to fall. After surviving in 2015, he loses his seat of Sheffield Hallam.
Labour: 21,881
Lib Dem: 19,756
Conservative: 13,561
02.39
A fascinating battle in the east London seat of Bermondsey and Old Southwark is looking good for Labour.
Neil Coyle, a Christian, says he is 'quite positive' with result expected around 0400. That would mean Simon Hughes, a former senior Lib Dem figure, who is also a Christian.
02.29
Angus Robertson, SNP party head in Westminster, has lost his seat in another shock result.
Whoever emerges from all this to be Prime Minister will be relieved not to face his piercing two questions at PMQs each year.
02.25
And Jonathan Reynolds, Labour MP and Chair of Christians on the Left, offers his congratulations to Labour's new MP for the Vale of Clwyd.
Fabulous news @ChrisRuane2017 #ge2017
— Jonathan Reynolds (@jreynoldsMP) June 9, 2017 " data-caption="null" data-credit="null">02.12
One of the most extraordinary results of the night, Battersea, has gone from the Conservatives to Labour. Jane Ellison, a senior minister, had an 8,000 majority but will now not be returning to Parliament.
London mayor Sadiq Khan there to congratulate the new Labour MP.
Brilliant result in Battersea. Well done to @Marshadecordova - our new London Labour MP for Battersea. #GE2017 #LabourGain pic.twitter.com/Sz7WLw44bx
— Sadiq Khan (@SadiqKhan) June 9, 2017 " data-caption="null" data-credit="null">02.08
Results coming in thick and fast now. One to watch out for:
Bishop Auckland – Helen Goodman, majority of 3,508 – EXPECTED 0300
Dedicated Christian MP, previously thought to be in danger because of her strong opposition to Brexit and a largely pro-Leave area, but may now be safe.
Christian Today prediction: Labour hold.
01.50
Susan Elan Jones has held her seat of Clwyd South with an increased majority.
Back to our marginal seats we're keeping an eye on, Susan Elan Jones and Clwyd South. Remember sitting on a majority of 2,404, in a big Brexit area, she was certainly not comfortable.
But she has boosted her majority to 4,356.
Labour: 19,002
Conservative: 14,646
Plaid Cymru: 2,293
UKIP: 802
Congrats to CotL member @susanelanjones, re-elected in Clwyd South!
— ChristiansontheLeft (@ChrLeft) June 9, 2017 " data-caption="null" data-credit="null">Clwyd South – Susan Elan Jones, majority of 2,402 – EXPECTED 0200
Despite what would normally be considered a comfortable majority, the former shadow Welsh minister could be in trouble with 15 per cent of voters in 2015 backing UKIP. Trends through the night are showing most of these are switching to the Conservatives.
01.39
One of the untold stories of the election night so far, because it was expected, is the near obliteration of UKIP. Most have voted for the Tories and it is difficult to see their raison d'etre now the UK has left the EU.
01.34
Editor of Jewish Chronicle, on Jeremy Corbyn now rated favourite to be next Prime Minister:
Corbyn is now favourite to be PM on the betting markets pic.twitter.com/yrt81omSFX
— Stephen Pollard (@stephenpollard) June 9, 2017 " data-caption="null" data-credit="null">01.29
Bishop of Newcastle celebrating how the night is going?
Sign of hope? Wonderful rainbow on journey home from Felton this evening. pic.twitter.com/fXwcK22FWN
— Christine Hardman (@BishopNewcastle) June 8, 2017 " data-caption="null" data-credit="null">01.19
This is David Lammy, Labour candidate for Tottenham and a Christian, on the rumours that Philip Davies, ardent right-winger, is in trouble in his seat of Shipley.
Apparently Philip Davies is in trouble in Shipley? Couldn't happen to a nicer bloke! Women and (everyone who isn't a sexist bigot) rejoice
— David Lammy (@DavidLammy) June 9, 2017 " data-caption="null" data-credit="null">01.14
Another key Tory target seat, Wrexham, remains with Labour.
Ian Lucas, Labour, 17,153
Andrew Atkinson, Conservative, 15,321
Carrie Harper, Plaid Cymru, 1,753
Carole O'Toole, Lib Dem, 865
01.09
Rather depressing, if insightful and accurate Twitter thread from ITV's political editor, Robert Peston.
What we know so far: 1) the left's grip on Labour now unshakeable, and Blairism totally dead (as I mentioned on Wednesday)
— Robert Peston (@Peston) June 8, 2017 " data-caption="null" data-credit="null">8) what I worry about, more than anything else, is that our nation will be revealed as more divided that at any time since the 1980s
— Robert Peston (@Peston) June 8, 2017 " data-caption="null" data-credit="null">01.01
Lots of stories of Tory despair emerging. Whisper it quietly, but it looks like Amber Rudd, home secretary and tipped as Theresa May's successor, could lose her seat in Hastings and Rye.
00.55
Elsewhere Labour hold Darlington with Jenny Chapman returning as MP.
Big blow for Conservatives with the seat high on the target seat.
00.50
Next up on our seats to watch through the night:
Ilford North – Wes Streeting, majority of 589 – EXPECTED 0330
Wes Streeting won one of the UK's most marginal seats in 2015 by just 589 votes.
Given the area's lean towards Brexit (52 per cent) and a significant number of Jewish voters furious at Jeremy Corbyn's perceived softness on antisemitism, Wes Streeting will be hoping Labour's surge hits North London.
Christian Today prediction: Labour hold
00.38
...and Cat McKinnell takes Newcastle North.
...and @CatMcKinnell making it the loveliest of hat tricks!
— ChristiansontheLeft (@ChrLeft) June 8, 2017 " data-caption="null" data-credit="null">00.31
Before we continue with those marginals to watch, some more Christian candidates winning seats as Sharon Hodgson wins Washington and Sunderland West, as expected.
...and @SharonHodgsonMP makes it a double whammy for brilliant CotL women in the NE.
— ChristiansontheLeft (@ChrLeft) June 8, 2017 " data-caption="null" data-credit="null">00.20
We're nailing our colours to the past for some key marginal seats to watch as we go through the night.
First up:
Clwyd South – Susan Elan Jones, majority of 2,402 – EXPECTED 0200
Despite what would normally be considered a comfortable majority, the former shadow Welsh minister could be in trouble with 15 per cent of voters in 2015 backing UKIP. Trends through the night are showing most of these are switching to the Conservatives.
Christian Today prediction: Conservative gain from Labour.
00.05
Results are trickling in slowly, but in the meantime here are some of the best pictures from polling day:
23.54
The first Christian candidate of the night has won their seat.
Bridgett Phillipson has, as expected, won the seat of Houghton and Sunderland South:
Results:
Lab: 59.6% (+4.4)
Con: 29.6% (+11.2)
UKIP: 5.7% (-15.8)
LDem: 2.2% (+0.1)
Grn: 1.7% (-1.1)
Ind: 1.2% (+1.2)
23.51
Talk already of who the new Conservative leader will be. Jonathan Reynolds in a cheerful mood tonight:
23.38
Holy Company. The Bishops joining us following the updates on Christian Today's live blog no doubt.
Bishop of Newcastle:
Bishop of Kensington:
Bishop of Leeds:
and again:
Bishop of Burnley:
23.33
So is the exit poll overly generous to Labour? From both Sunderland's and Newcastle's results it seems so but that is just a snapshot.
We will have to wait until more results come in to get a clearer picture.
But Jeremy Corbyn was certainly looking pleased with himself when he cast his vote earlier today.
23.23
Stephen Beer, vice-chair of Christians on the Left, tells Christian Today:
'Sensing the mood of the nation has been particularly difficult this election. I've spent time today in Westminster North, where Labour activists have been in good spirits.
'But the exit poll is certainly a surprise, even though it has been obvious already that Theresa May called this election without really knowing what she stood for or having any plan for Brexit negotiations. It's early in the night however.'
23.18
Political editor of The Sun suggests Tory HQ are sceptical about the exit poll:
23.05
Newcastle win the race to declare first. And the results show Labour keep the seat, as expected, but not by as much as the exit poll expected.
First signs the Conservatives may do better than the 314 seats predicted by the 10pm poll.
Newcastle results:
Labour: 24,071 Conservatives: 9,134 Lib Dem, 1,812 UKIP: 1,482 Green: 595
Sunderland results:
Labour: 24,665 Conservative: 12,324 UKIP: 2,229 Lib Dem: 908
22.48
So that exit poll tells us we're heading for a hung parliament. It also means a lot of current Christian MPs will be very very nervous.
David Burrowes, a longstanding Christian conservative MP in Enfield Southgate, is one of a number who could lose his seat if the exit poll prediction is right.
22.40
Jonathan Reynolds, Christian candidate for Stalybridge and Hyde and Labour's Chair of Christians on the Left, speaks cautiously to Christian Today:
'Turnout today in my patch seemed very high, and that is usually good for Labour,' he said.
'But we have to wait to see the actual results to come in.'
22.35
If you're still reeling from that, join the club. Theresa May called the election to gain a big mandate for the EU negotiations and, if that poll is correct, she has failed spectacularly.
But as both Labour and Conservative figures are cautiously saying, 'it is only a prediction'.
Stay with us as we bring you all the results and reaction.
22.18
Well that has taken a while to digest.
So here are the results and the change from the current position.
Conservatives: 314 (down 16)
Labour: 266 (up 34)
SNP: 34 (down 22)
Lib Dems: 14 (up 6)
Plaid Cymru: 3 (no change)
Greens: 1 (no change)
Ukip: 0 (no change)
Others: 138
22.03
Extraordinary exit poll predicts a hung parliament.
Conservatives largest party on 314.
Labour: 266
SNP: 34
Lib Dem: 14
UKIP: 0
21.55
The first excitement of the night is the broadcaster's exit poll - due in just 5 minutes at 10pm. This will give us a good indication of where the night will take us.
Will the Labour surge materialise? Has the #LibDemFightback flopped? Or will May win her landslide?
21.45 Welcome!
I'm here to bring you all the latest results, reaction and analysis throughout General Election night.
We'll be focusing in on marginal seats where Christian candidates are standing and also taking a look back at a campaign where religion and faith dominated.
Join us for the ride, tweet me @harryfarls, and I look forward to your company throughout the night.
