Jeremy Corbyn’s future is in doubt after an exit poll predicted a historic Conservative majority (Picture: Getty Images )

Labour was seeking to blame Brexit for the catastrophic electoral defeat predicted by the exit poll that has estimated a huge majority for the Conservatives.

However, there was a glimmer of hope for the party with Britain Elects tweeting: Should note the exit poll features 65 seats classified as “too close to call”.’

Despite this, shadow chancellor John McDonnell was visibly shocked by the predicted figures suggesting Labour was on course for its second General Election defeat under Jeremy Corbyn.

Mr McDonnell sought to blame a public discourse in which ‘Brexit has dominated’, defended the left-wing policies adopted by him and Mr Corbyn, and said ‘appropriate decisions’ will be made about the future of the leadership.




The BBC/Sky/ITV poll suggested Labour had slumped to 191 seats while the Tories had surged to 368 and winning a majority of 86, paving the way for the UK to leave the EU next month.

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If the actual result resembles the prediction, Labour will lose 52 seats, putting it on course for its worst result in terms of seats since 1935.

Mr Corbyn will now be under overwhelming pressure to resign. Ahead of the election, Labour sources had been predicting he would only go if Boris Johnson won a majority.

But they indicated Mr Corbyn would not resign immediately if he had no chance of becoming PM and would likely stay on into the new year while a leadership election is battled.

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Counting is taking part across the country – this is the scene in Boris Johnson’s Uxbridge seat (Picture: AFP)

Shortly after the poll was released, Mr McDonnell told the BBC he was shocked by the prediction, having thought the polls were narrowing.

‘If it is anywhere near this it will be extremely disappointing for the party overall and for our movement,’ he said.

‘I think Brexit has dominated, it has dominated everything by the looks of it.

‘We thought other issues could cut through and there would be a wider debate, from this evidence there clearly wasn’t.’

Asked about his and Mr Corbyn’s future, he said: ‘Let’s see the results themselves. As I say, the appropriate decisions will be made and we’ll always make the decisions in the best interests of our party.’

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