The European Union on Friday said that Brexit is ready for the trade deal with Britain but not at "any price", hours after Boris Johnson secured a sweeping victory in UK general election.

Speaking at the EU summit, Council President Charles Michel also stressed that the bloc would insist that Britain respect European norms to win the deal.

"There is no question of concluding a deal at any price,"&nbsp;said Michel, who coordinates EU summits, after the talks.

"Negotiations are over when the results are balanced and guarantee respect for the different concerns," the former Belgian premier said.

"We have a way of doing things based on experience, transparency and maintaining unity" in the EU, he added.

"My point is very clear, we are ready. We have decided what are our priorities," Michel&nbsp;said, adding,&nbsp;"I hope we will have loyal negotiations, good negotiations."

The EU leaders are holding a summit to discuss the aftermath of the UK vote and Britain's planned departure from the bloc on January 31.

Meanwhile, European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen warned of the tight timing for securing a trade deal with Britain.&nbsp;

"The time frame ahead of us is very challenging," von der Leyen said.

After more than three years of political wrangling over Britain's divorce from the European Union, Johnson vowed in his victory speech to "put an end to all that nonsense" and "get Brexit done on time by January 31, no ifs, no buts".

The potential ratification next month of the EU-UK divorce deal will complete the first stage of the Brexit process, but both sides still need to thrash out a new trade and security agreement.

Meanwhile, Germany Chancellor Angela Merkel warned that Britain would be an economic "competitor at our door" after it leaves the European Union.

(With inputs from agencies)

The European Union on Friday said that Brexit is ready for the trade deal with Britain but not at "any price", hours after Boris Johnson secured a sweeping victory in UK general election.

The European Union on Friday said that Brexit is ready for the trade deal with Britain but not at "any price", hours after Boris Johnson secured a sweeping victory in UK general election. Speaking at the EU summit, Council President Charles Michel also stressed that the bloc would insist that Britain respect European norms to win the deal. "There is no question of concluding a deal at any price," said Michel, who coordinates EU summits, after the talks. "Negotiations are over when the results are balanced and guarantee respect for the different concerns," the former Belgian premier said. "We have a way of doing things based on experience, transparency and maintaining unity" in the EU, he added. "My point is very clear, we are ready. We have decided what are our priorities," Michel said, adding, "I hope we will have loyal negotiations, good negotiations." The EU leaders are holding a summit to discuss the aftermath of the UK vote and Britain's planned departure from the bloc on January 31. Meanwhile, European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen warned of the tight timing for securing a trade deal with Britain. "The time frame ahead of us is very challenging," von der Leyen said. After more than three years of political wrangling over Britain's divorce from the European Union, Johnson vowed in his victory speech to "put an end to all that nonsense" and "get Brexit done on time by January 31, no ifs, no buts". The potential ratification next month of the EU-UK divorce deal will complete the first stage of the Brexit process, but both sides still need to thrash out a new trade and security agreement. Meanwhile, Germany Chancellor Angela Merkel warned that Britain would be an economic "competitor at our door" after it leaves the European Union. (With inputs from agencies)

Ready for Brexit trade deal but not 'at any price': European Union

After the sweeping victory in UK General election, Boris Johnson has head to&nbsp;Buckingham Palace to ask&nbsp;Queen Elizabeth for formal permission to create a new government.

In Thursday's general election, the third in less than five years,&nbsp;the Conservatives secured a sweeping victory, winning more than 360 of the 650 seats in the House of Commons - the party's largest majority since under Margaret Thatcher in the 1980s.&nbsp;

The Johnson's win has secured Britain's exit from&nbsp;the European Union by January 31.

Brexit represents the country's biggest political and economic gamble since World War Two, cutting the world's fifth-largest economy adrift from the vast trading bloc and threatening the integrity of the United Kingdom.

For Johnson, who campaigned on a vow to "Get Brexit Done", victory was a vindication after anti-Brexit opponents tried one manoeuvre after another to thwart him during his first chaotic months in office.

"We will get <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/how-boris-johnsons-election-gamble-paid-off-268083">Brexit done on time by the 31st of January,</a> no ifs, no buts, no maybes," a triumphant Johnson told supporters at a rally in London.

"Leaving the European Union as one United Kingdom, taking back control of our laws, borders, money, our trade, immigration system, delivering on the democratic mandate of the people," he said, reprising the refrains of his successful Brexit referendum campaign of 2016.

Sterling soared, on course for one of its biggest one-day gains in the past two decades

Nearly half a century after Britain joined the EU, Johnson must now strike new international trade deals, preserving London's position as a top global financial capital and keeping the United Kingdom together.

That last goal looks more challenging, with Scotland voting for a nationalist party that wants an independence referendum, and Irish nationalists performing strongly in Northern Ireland.

"Boris Johnson may have the mandate to take England out of the European Union. He emphatically does not have the mandate to take Scotland out of the European Union," said Scotland's first minister, Nicola Sturgeon.

Her Scottish National Party (SNP) won 48 of Scotland's 59 seats in the national parliament.

(With inputs from agencies)

After the sweeping victory in UK General election, Boris Johnson has head to Buckingham Palace to ask Queen Elizabeth for formal permission to create a new government.

After the sweeping victory in UK General election, Boris Johnson has head to Buckingham Palace to ask Queen Elizabeth for formal permission to create a new government. In Thursday's general election, the third in less than five years, the Conservatives secured a sweeping victory, winning more than 360 of the 650 seats in the House of Commons - the party's largest majority since under Margaret Thatcher in the 1980s. The Johnson's win has secured Britain's exit from the European Union by January 31. Brexit represents the country's biggest political and economic gamble since World War Two, cutting the world's fifth-largest economy adrift from the vast trading bloc and threatening the integrity of the United Kingdom. For Johnson, who campaigned on a vow to "Get Brexit Done", victory was a vindication after anti-Brexit opponents tried one manoeuvre after another to thwart him during his first chaotic months in office. "We will get Brexit done on time by the 31st of January, no ifs, no buts, no maybes," a triumphant Johnson told supporters at a rally in London. "Leaving the European Union as one United Kingdom, taking back control of our laws, borders, money, our trade, immigration system, delivering on the democratic mandate of the people," he said, reprising the refrains of his successful Brexit referendum campaign of 2016. Sterling soared, on course for one of its biggest one-day gains in the past two decades Nearly half a century after Britain joined the EU, Johnson must now strike new international trade deals, preserving London's position as a top global financial capital and keeping the United Kingdom together. That last goal looks more challenging, with Scotland voting for a nationalist party that wants an independence referendum, and Irish nationalists performing strongly in Northern Ireland. "Boris Johnson may have the mandate to take England out of the European Union. He emphatically does not have the mandate to take Scotland out of the European Union," said Scotland's first minister, Nicola Sturgeon. Her Scottish National Party (SNP) won 48 of Scotland's 59 seats in the national parliament. (With inputs from agencies)

UK's Boris Johnson heads to Buckingham Palace to ask to form government

Boris Johnson won a massive victory in the UK election, putting the country on course to leave the European Union next month after the biggest shift in British political allegiances for decades. Now the question is will this win get the Brexit done? #UKElections2019 #Brexit #BorisJohnsonWins

UK Elections 2019: Can brute majority 'get Brexit done'?

Prime Minister Boris Johnson won a thundering election victory that will allow him to take Britain out of the European Union in a matter of weeks.

UK PM Boris Johnson: Threat of 2nd referendum no more

It the eve of elections in the United Kingdom, third poll in four years and contenders Boris Johnson and Jeremy Corbyn have tried every trick in the book to impress the voters. Johnson was seen driving a bulldozer through a brick wall of foam bricks with the words "Get Brexit Done" written on it. On the other hand Jeremy Corbyn was making paper Reindeer with the kids at primary school.

WION Dispatch: UK Prime Ministership candidates try every bit to impress voters

The long-delayed Brexit is likely to become reality soon with Prime Minister Boris Johnson's Conservative Party recording a resounding victory in Britain's election.

The long-delayed Brexit is likely to become reality soon with Prime Minister Boris Johnson's Conservative Party recording a resounding victory in Britain's election. A landslide victory for the Conservative Party would mark the ultimate failure of opponents of Brexit who plotted to thwart a 2016 referendum vote. An exit poll showed the Conservatives winning a landslide 368 seats, more than enough for a comfortable majority in the 650-seat parliament and the biggest Conservative national election win since Margaret Thatcher's 1987 triumph. "I think this will turn out to be a historic election that gives us now, in this new government, the chance to respect the democratic will of the British people," Johnson said after winning his seat of Uxbridge. He said the Conservatives now had a powerful new mandate to get Brexit done. With results from across Britain indicating the exit poll was accurate, Johnson's bet on a snap election has paid off, meaning he will swiftly ratify the Brexit deal he struck with the EU so that the United Kingdom can leave on Jan. 31 - 10 months later than initially planned. (With inputs from Reuters)

Brexit on course as UK's Johnson coasts to commanding win

Boris Johnson won a decisive victory in the UK election, putting the country on course to leave the European Union next month after the biggest shift in British political allegiances for decades. The Conservatives have cross-passed the majority mark of 326 seats. It's a historic win for the party as reports suggest that the rival Labour Party has suffered the worst defeat in the last many years. The Labour Party is far behind at 194 seats.

UK Election 2019: Boris Johnson wins parliamentary elections

The European Union is ready to have next round of Brexit talks, council President&nbsp;Charles Michel said on Friday after&nbsp;Johnson secured Brexit divorce from the bloc with a resounding victory in the UK general election. &nbsp;

Speaking at the EU Summit where leaders will be discussing Britain's exit from the bloc, President Charles Michel said, "My point is very clear, we are ready. We have decided what are our priorities."&nbsp;

"I hope we will have loyal negotiations, good negotiations," said Michel, who coordinates EU summits for the bloc's 28 member states, that for now also includes Britain.

The former Belgian prime minister hoped for "early ratification by the British parliament" of the exit agreement negotiated between London and the EU, "so that we can start the negotiations on the next phase calmly, quietly but with great determination".

The EU leaders have a Brexit text ready to adopt on Friday at the end of their two-day summit, which was dominated on Thursday by climate talks.

In Thursday's general election, the Conservatives secured a sweeping victory, winning more than 360 of the 650 seats in the House of Commons - the party's largest majority since under Margaret Thatcher in the 1980s.&nbsp;

The result handed Johnson his first national election victory but also delivered a dramatic blow to his main competitor, opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn, whose Labour Party suffered heavy losses.

Soon after the result got announced, Johnson promised to not let down voters and Britain will exit EU on January 31.

"We will get Brexit done on time by the 31st of January, no ifs, no buts, no maybes," he said.

(With inputs from agencies)

The European Union is ready to have next round of Brexit talks, council President Charles Michel said on Friday after Johnson secured Brexit divorce from the bloc with a resounding victory in the UK general election.

The European Union is ready to have next round of Brexit talks, council President Charles Michel said on Friday after Johnson secured Brexit divorce from the bloc with a resounding victory in the UK general election. Speaking at the EU Summit where leaders will be discussing Britain's exit from the bloc, President Charles Michel said, "My point is very clear, we are ready. We have decided what are our priorities." "I hope we will have loyal negotiations, good negotiations," said Michel, who coordinates EU summits for the bloc's 28 member states, that for now also includes Britain. The former Belgian prime minister hoped for "early ratification by the British parliament" of the exit agreement negotiated between London and the EU, "so that we can start the negotiations on the next phase calmly, quietly but with great determination". The EU leaders have a Brexit text ready to adopt on Friday at the end of their two-day summit, which was dominated on Thursday by climate talks. In Thursday's general election, the Conservatives secured a sweeping victory, winning more than 360 of the 650 seats in the House of Commons - the party's largest majority since under Margaret Thatcher in the 1980s. The result handed Johnson his first national election victory but also delivered a dramatic blow to his main competitor, opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn, whose Labour Party suffered heavy losses. Soon after the result got announced, Johnson promised to not let down voters and Britain will exit EU on January 31. "We will get Brexit done on time by the 31st of January, no ifs, no buts, no maybes," he said. (With inputs from agencies)

EU ready for next round of Brexit talks; council President Michel says 'hope we will have loyal negotiations'

The mantra of British Prime Minister <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/we-will-leave-eu-on-january-31-no-ifs-no-buts-says-uk-prime-minister-johnson-amid-resounding-victory-268054">Boris Johnson</a> and his Conservative Party during the national election campaign was aimed at harnessing voter frustration at a parliamentary logjam over Britain’s exit from the European Union.

It worked.

Beyond the traditional strategy of swaying voters in swing districts held by the main opposition Labour Party, Johnson wanted to strike directly at Labour’s heartlands in the hopes of winning support from people who had never voted Conservative but for whom Brexit had come to trump even traditional party allegiances.

The Conservatives secured a <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/britain-and-us-free-to-strike-lucrative-trade-deal-after-brexit-trump-268038">sweeping victory</a>, winning more than 360 of the 650 seats in the House of Commons - the party's largest majority since under Margaret Thatcher in the 1980s. The result handed Johnson his first national election victory but also delivered a dramatic blow to his main competitor, opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn, whose Labour Party suffered heavy losses.

For 55-year old Johnson, who only entered Downing Street this summer after his Conservative predecessor resigned, calling an election had been a high-stakes gamble.

But he also considered it a necessity to convert his party’s minority in the House of Commons into a majority and move his government’s agenda forward. Notably, that includes Britain – the world’s fifth-largest economy - exiting the European Union by the end of January, which would mark the country’s most significant trade and foreign policy move since World War Two.

The five-week campaign also saw Johnson facing questions about his personal trustworthiness after his repeated failed promises during the year to deliver Brexit by the end of October “do or die.”

He faced allegations of failing to disclose close personal ties with a U.S. businesswoman who had received thousands of pounds in public business funding while he had been mayor. Jennifer Arcuri publicly said during the campaign she had had “a very special relationship” with Johnson, who has denied any impropriety. A government audit report ruled that a ministerial department’s decision to award a 100,000 pound ($128,000) grant to a company run by Arcuri was appropriate.

The plan early in the campaign was to target around 40 traditionally Labour-supporting seats in northern and central England, a party source close to the campaign said. Johnson launched the Conservative campaign battle bus in Middleton in northwest England, in a district with a slim Labour majority but which saw 62% of voters back Brexit in 2016.

"The strategy is to woo Brexit Party supporters of all colours and to specifically court Labour leave voters especially in the North and Midlands,” said the source, speaking on Oct. 29, the day the House of Commons approved an early election.

"The themes are people versus parliament, let's get Brexit done and move on, and a very merry Brexit to everyone."

Exit polls Thursday evening suggesting a major victory for Johnson caught some in the Conservative camp off guard. “I was stunned,” said one member of Johnson's campaign team, who described the sense of relief that the campaign strategy to keep on message had worked.

As the results of the election rolled in early Friday, it became clear that the Conservatives had succeeded in scooping up seats in districts that had voted Labour for generations, including places like Bishop Auckland and Sedgefield, the seat held by former Labour Prime Minister Tony Blair. However, Johnson’s party had lost seats in some more pro-EU constituencies, such as Putney in London.

"This election means that getting Brexit down is now the irrefutable, irresistible, unarguable decision of the British people," said an ebullient Johnson on Friday morning.

He also addressed those who had voted Conservative for the first time by saying "you may only have lent us your vote" and "you may intend to return to Labour next time round." He added: "I and we will never take your support for granted."

Core message

His often-ruffled appearance, including a distinctive mop of blonde hair, marks a contrast to the discipline and ruthlessness he displayed to get to this point.

Johnson – full name is Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson – took office in July after winning a Conservative Party leadership contest triggered by the resignation of former Prime Minister Theresa May. She had failed to win backing by parliament for a Brexit divorce agreement she had negotiated with the EU.

The new prime minister and his team concluded early on that the only way to change the arithmetic in the House of Commons was to force a new election. But he needed a united front – no easy feat for a party where the issue of Europe has caused infighting and played a role in the downfall of the previous four Conservative prime ministers.

During his first weeks in office he oversaw one of the biggest purges of cabinet ministers in modern British history and expelled from his party 21 Conservative lawmakers who had voted against the prime minister on Brexit, including the grandson of Winston Churchill.

“We weren’t bluffing, and they were wilfully ignorant if they thought differently,” said a senior prime ministerial aide at the time, referring to a message from Johnson to lawmakers that he expected loyalty.

The election campaign officially started in early November and Johnson sought to convince voters that his party was the only one which could break the impasse among politicians in Westminster to enable the country to move forward.

The campaign focused heavily on core Brexit-related messages and was relatively light on policy detail, several members of his campaign team said. "The whole point of this campaign was to keep it tight and focused," said one of his team. "It's all about the messaging."

Team Johnson received a boost when the Brexit Party led by veteran eurosceptic Nigel Farage early on in the campaign said his candidates would not fight for 317 Conservative-held seats to avoid splitting the Leave vote.

Labour, meanwhile, pursued a compromise position on Brexit.

In an effort to unite his party, which was also divided over Europe, Labour’s leader Corbyn settled on a policy of negotiating a new deal to leave the EU followed by a second referendum – a stance that was unpopular with the party’s Brexit voters and even some in his own team.

He instead sought to focus the campaign agenda on a manifesto that included widespread nationalization and spending on public services such as the National Health Service, which the Labour Party established in 1948 and provides health care to all free at the point of delivery.

'Fairy tale'

Johnson’s pitch included a pledge to lower immigration and that Brexit would free up money that Britain would otherwise pay to the EU that could be redirected to spending on public services, including the NHS, at home.

One pledge was to add 50,000 more nurses but, under scrutiny from the opposition and media, the prime minister acknowledged that 19,000 were already working in the NHS, adding that his policies would retain those workers that might otherwise leave.

During an Oct. 13 visit to the northern town of Doncaster, a female member of the public accused him of peddling fiction by promising a rosy future for Britain outside of the EU and being part of a government that had made cuts to public services.

“You've got the cheek to come here and tell us that austerity's over and it's all good now - we're gonna leave the EU and everything's going to be great," the woman told the prime minister during a visit to Doncaster. "It's just a fairy tale."

His responded by saying his government was investing in the area.

Some voters said they planned to support him even if lack of trust was a factor.

"It's tough to believe what they're saying after the time that we've had recently," said Tim Turner, 41, operations director at knitwear manufacturer John Smedley, during a visit by Johnson to a company mill in Derbyshire in central England on Dec. 5, questioning his assertion over the 50,000 nurses.

"I think he's got the best chance, but whether I believe him or not is a different matter," he said. Turner said he had voted before for other parties, including Labour, but would vote for Johnson in this election.

Johnson has repeatedly said that any breach of trust should be blamed on parliament, not him. “The issue before the country is after three and a half years politicians of all parties are held in low esteem because they have refused to get on and deliver on the mandate of the people,” he said on the campaign trail.

Potential liability

Conservative strategists considered Johnson’s personal popularity and proven ability to reach across party lines a key election asset. The charismatic politician helped lead the successful Brexit campaign in the 2016 referendum and is the only Conservative to have been London mayor.

By contrast, recent polls have ranked Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn the least popular opposition leader in decades.

But Johnson’s team were also aware the prime minister, known for his often-colourful turn of phrase and a tendency to go off-script, was a potential liability. On the campaign trail, his team sought to minimise the risk of unflattering encounters with members of the public and with some television interviewers, according to a campaign source.

Many of his interactions with voters were in Conservative-held seats, while in traditional Labour districts the prime minister often visited businesses with sympathetic bosses or organised rallies in venues where attendees could be screened.

In the final days of the campaign, Johnson crisscrossed districts in the north and central England, regions where Labour has traditionally had strong support.

At a factory of British construction equipment maker JCB near Uttoxeter in central England on Tuesday, Johnson drove a digger emblazoned with “get Brexit done” through a makeshift wall emblazoned with the word “GRIDLOCK.”

The mantra of British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his Conservative Party during the national election campaign was aimed at harnessing voter frustration at a parliamentary logjam over Britain’s exit from the European Union.

The mantra of British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his Conservative Party during the national election campaign was aimed at harnessing voter frustration at a parliamentary logjam over Britain’s exit from the European Union. It worked. Beyond the traditional strategy of swaying voters in swing districts held by the main opposition Labour Party, Johnson wanted to strike directly at Labour’s heartlands in the hopes of winning support from people who had never voted Conservative but for whom Brexit had come to trump even traditional party allegiances. The Conservatives secured a sweeping victory, winning more than 360 of the 650 seats in the House of Commons - the party's largest majority since under Margaret Thatcher in the 1980s. The result handed Johnson his first national election victory but also delivered a dramatic blow to his main competitor, opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn, whose Labour Party suffered heavy losses. For 55-year old Johnson, who only entered Downing Street this summer after his Conservative predecessor resigned, calling an election had been a high-stakes gamble. But he also considered it a necessity to convert his party’s minority in the House of Commons into a majority and move his government’s agenda forward. Notably, that includes Britain – the world’s fifth-largest economy - exiting the European Union by the end of January, which would mark the country’s most significant trade and foreign policy move since World War Two. The five-week campaign also saw Johnson facing questions about his personal trustworthiness after his repeated failed promises during the year to deliver Brexit by the end of October “do or die.” He faced allegations of failing to disclose close personal ties with a U.S. businesswoman who had received thousands of pounds in public business funding while he had been mayor. Jennifer Arcuri publicly said during the campaign she had had “a very special relationship” with Johnson, who has denied any impropriety. A government audit report ruled that a ministerial department’s decision to award a 100,000 pound ($128,000) grant to a company run by Arcuri was appropriate. The plan early in the campaign was to target around 40 traditionally Labour-supporting seats in northern and central England, a party source close to the campaign said. Johnson launched the Conservative campaign battle bus in Middleton in northwest England, in a district with a slim Labour majority but which saw 62% of voters back Brexit in 2016. "The strategy is to woo Brexit Party supporters of all colours and to specifically court Labour leave voters especially in the North and Midlands,” said the source, speaking on Oct. 29, the day the House of Commons approved an early election. "The themes are people versus parliament, let's get Brexit done and move on, and a very merry Brexit to everyone." Exit polls Thursday evening suggesting a major victory for Johnson caught some in the Conservative camp off guard. “I was stunned,” said one member of Johnson's campaign team, who described the sense of relief that the campaign strategy to keep on message had worked. As the results of the election rolled in early Friday, it became clear that the Conservatives had succeeded in scooping up seats in districts that had voted Labour for generations, including places like Bishop Auckland and Sedgefield, the seat held by former Labour Prime Minister Tony Blair. However, Johnson’s party had lost seats in some more pro-EU constituencies, such as Putney in London. "This election means that getting Brexit down is now the irrefutable, irresistible, unarguable decision of the British people," said an ebullient Johnson on Friday morning. He also addressed those who had voted Conservative for the first time by saying "you may only have lent us your vote" and "you may intend to return to Labour next time round." He added: "I and we will never take your support for granted." Core message His often-ruffled appearance, including a distinctive mop of blonde hair, marks a contrast to the discipline and ruthlessness he displayed to get to this point. Johnson – full name is Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson – took office in July after winning a Conservative Party leadership contest triggered by the resignation of former Prime Minister Theresa May. She had failed to win backing by parliament for a Brexit divorce agreement she had negotiated with the EU. The new prime minister and his team concluded early on that the only way to change the arithmetic in the House of Commons was to force a new election. But he needed a united front – no easy feat for a party where the issue of Europe has caused infighting and played a role in the downfall of the previous four Conservative prime ministers. During his first weeks in office he oversaw one of the biggest purges of cabinet ministers in modern British history and expelled from his party 21 Conservative lawmakers who had voted against the prime minister on Brexit, including the grandson of Winston Churchill. “We weren’t bluffing, and they were wilfully ignorant if they thought differently,” said a senior prime ministerial aide at the time, referring to a message from Johnson to lawmakers that he expected loyalty. The election campaign officially started in early November and Johnson sought to convince voters that his party was the only one which could break the impasse among politicians in Westminster to enable the country to move forward. The campaign focused heavily on core Brexit-related messages and was relatively light on policy detail, several members of his campaign team said. "The whole point of this campaign was to keep it tight and focused," said one of his team. "It's all about the messaging." Team Johnson received a boost when the Brexit Party led by veteran eurosceptic Nigel Farage early on in the campaign said his candidates would not fight for 317 Conservative-held seats to avoid splitting the Leave vote. Labour, meanwhile, pursued a compromise position on Brexit. In an effort to unite his party, which was also divided over Europe, Labour’s leader Corbyn settled on a policy of negotiating a new deal to leave the EU followed by a second referendum – a stance that was unpopular with the party’s Brexit voters and even some in his own team. He instead sought to focus the campaign agenda on a manifesto that included widespread nationalization and spending on public services such as the National Health Service, which the Labour Party established in 1948 and provides health care to all free at the point of delivery. 'Fairy tale' Johnson’s pitch included a pledge to lower immigration and that Brexit would free up money that Britain would otherwise pay to the EU that could be redirected to spending on public services, including the NHS, at home. One pledge was to add 50,000 more nurses but, under scrutiny from the opposition and media, the prime minister acknowledged that 19,000 were already working in the NHS, adding that his policies would retain those workers that might otherwise leave. During an Oct. 13 visit to the northern town of Doncaster, a female member of the public accused him of peddling fiction by promising a rosy future for Britain outside of the EU and being part of a government that had made cuts to public services. “You've got the cheek to come here and tell us that austerity's over and it's all good now - we're gonna leave the EU and everything's going to be great," the woman told the prime minister during a visit to Doncaster. "It's just a fairy tale." His responded by saying his government was investing in the area. Some voters said they planned to support him even if lack of trust was a factor. "It's tough to believe what they're saying after the time that we've had recently," said Tim Turner, 41, operations director at knitwear manufacturer John Smedley, during a visit by Johnson to a company mill in Derbyshire in central England on Dec. 5, questioning his assertion over the 50,000 nurses. "I think he's got the best chance, but whether I believe him or not is a different matter," he said. Turner said he had voted before for other parties, including Labour, but would vote for Johnson in this election. Johnson has repeatedly said that any breach of trust should be blamed on parliament, not him. “The issue before the country is after three and a half years politicians of all parties are held in low esteem because they have refused to get on and deliver on the mandate of the people,” he said on the campaign trail. Potential liability Conservative strategists considered Johnson’s personal popularity and proven ability to reach across party lines a key election asset. The charismatic politician helped lead the successful Brexit campaign in the 2016 referendum and is the only Conservative to have been London mayor. By contrast, recent polls have ranked Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn the least popular opposition leader in decades. But Johnson’s team were also aware the prime minister, known for his often-colourful turn of phrase and a tendency to go off-script, was a potential liability. On the campaign trail, his team sought to minimise the risk of unflattering encounters with members of the public and with some television interviewers, according to a campaign source. Many of his interactions with voters were in Conservative-held seats, while in traditional Labour districts the prime minister often visited businesses with sympathetic bosses or organised rallies in venues where attendees could be screened. In the final days of the campaign, Johnson crisscrossed districts in the north and central England, regions where Labour has traditionally had strong support. At a factory of British construction equipment maker JCB near Uttoxeter in central England on Tuesday, Johnson drove a digger emblazoned with “get Brexit done” through a makeshift wall emblazoned with the word “GRIDLOCK.”

How Boris Johnson's election gamble paid off

United Kingdom's Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Friday said Britain would leave the European Union on January 31 after his sweeping election win. "We will get Brexit done on time by the 31st of January, no ifs, no buts, no maybes," Johnson told cheering supporters on Friday.

United Kingdom's Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Friday said Britain would leave the European Union on January 31 after his sweeping election win. "We will get Brexit done on time by the 31st of January, no ifs, no buts, no maybes," Johnson told cheering supporters on Friday. Johnson paid tribute to colleagues who lost their seats and said: ''This is the biggest majority for the party since the 1980s''. He further said that he will able to get Brexit done. It was now the “irrefutable, unarguable” decision of the British people, he added. Lauding his party for ending the threat of a second referendum, Johnson said it is his duty to deliver on the promises made by the Tories at the election. Johnson concluded his speech by saying: ''Let’s get Brexit done. But first let’s get breakfast done''.

We will leave EU on January 31, no ifs, no buts, says UK Prime Minister Johnson amid resounding victory 

Corbyn quits as Labour Party Leader. To know more watch

Labour Party Faces Worst Poll Failure

How the mighty fell: Biggest upsets in the UK election

Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/british-pm-johnson-we-have-a-powerful-mandate-for-brexit-268022">Boris Johnson </a>on Friday for his massive victory in the general elections in the United Kingdom.&nbsp;

"Many congratulations to PM @BorisJohnson for his return with a thumping majority. I wish him the best and look forward to working together for closer India-UK ties", PM Modi said in a tweet.&nbsp;

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Many congratulations to PM <a href="https://twitter.com/BorisJohnson?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BorisJohnson</a> for his return with a thumping majority. I wish him the best and look forward to working together for closer India-UK ties. <a href="https://t.co/D95Z7XXRml">pic.twitter.com/D95Z7XXRml</a>
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/1205360968810803200?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 13, 2019</a></blockquote>
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Johnson's Conservatives are on course of an impressive victory in the elections which were deemed as giving a final verdict on Brexit.&nbsp;

The Conservatives secured 362 seats out of total 650, its biggest national election win since Margaret Thatcher's triumph in 1987.&nbsp;

Its main opposition, the Labour, on the other hand, claimed 203 seats, a loss of 59. Labour's humiliating loss led to the resignation of its leader Jeremy Corbyn. The party is moving towards its worst show since 1935.&nbsp;

US President Donald Trump also extended his wishes to Johnson on a "great win" and said that London and Washington would be now able to strike a "massive new trade deal" after Brexit.

"This deal has the potential to be far bigger and more lucrative than any deal that could be made with the E.U. Celebrate Boris!" Trump said.

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Congratulations to Boris Johnson on his great WIN! Britain and the United States will now be free to strike a massive new Trade Deal after BREXIT. This deal has the potential to be far bigger and more lucrative than any deal that could be made with the E.U. Celebrate Boris!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1205368801438707713?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 13, 2019</a></blockquote>
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After winning his seat of Uxbridge, Johnson said that it seems that Conservatives got a "powerful" mandate to deliver Brexit.&nbsp;

"At this stage it does look as though this one-nation Conservative government has been given a powerful new mandate, to get Brexit done and not just to get Brexit done but to unite this country and to take it forward," Johnson said. &nbsp;

(with inputs from agencies) 
&nbsp;

Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Boris Johnson on Friday for his massive victory in the general elections in the United Kingdom. "Many congratulations to PM @BorisJohnson for his return with a thumping majority.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Boris Johnson on Friday for his massive victory in the general elections in the United Kingdom. "Many congratulations to PM @BorisJohnson for his return with a thumping majority. I wish him the best and look forward to working together for closer India-UK ties", PM Modi said in a tweet. Many congratulations to PM @BorisJohnson for his return with a thumping majority. I wish him the best and look forward to working together for closer India-UK ties. pic.twitter.com/D95Z7XXRml — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 13, 2019 × Johnson's Conservatives are on course of an impressive victory in the elections which were deemed as giving a final verdict on Brexit. The Conservatives secured 362 seats out of total 650, its biggest national election win since Margaret Thatcher's triumph in 1987. Its main opposition, the Labour, on the other hand, claimed 203 seats, a loss of 59. Labour's humiliating loss led to the resignation of its leader Jeremy Corbyn. The party is moving towards its worst show since 1935. US President Donald Trump also extended his wishes to Johnson on a "great win" and said that London and Washington would be now able to strike a "massive new trade deal" after Brexit. "This deal has the potential to be far bigger and more lucrative than any deal that could be made with the E.U. Celebrate Boris!" Trump said. Congratulations to Boris Johnson on his great WIN! Britain and the United States will now be free to strike a massive new Trade Deal after BREXIT. This deal has the potential to be far bigger and more lucrative than any deal that could be made with the E.U. Celebrate Boris! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 13, 2019 × After winning his seat of Uxbridge, Johnson said that it seems that Conservatives got a "powerful" mandate to deliver Brexit. "At this stage it does look as though this one-nation Conservative government has been given a powerful new mandate, to get Brexit done and not just to get Brexit done but to unite this country and to take it forward," Johnson said. (with inputs from agencies)

PM Narendra Modi congratulates Boris Johnson for win in UK election

Northern Ireland elected more Irish nationalists to <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/british-pm-johnson-we-have-a-powerful-mandate-for-brexit-268022">Britain's parliament</a> than pro-British unionists for the first time on Friday, after the largest nationalist party Sinn Fein narrowly won the final of the region's 18 seats.

That meant Sinn Fein kept its seven seats and the resurgent fellow pro-Irish SDLP won two, combining to pass the Democratic Unionist Party, which fell from 10 seats to eight.

The cross-community Alliance Party took the final seat, adding to the majority of anti-Brexit MPs after its share of the total vote rocketed by almost 10 per cent.

A first since the partition of Ireland in 1921, the result led to increased calls from Sinn Fein for a vote to split from the rest of the United Kingdom, as <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/brexit-beckons-as-uks-johnson-coasts-to-commanding-win-267999">Prime Minister Boris Johnson</a> won a resounding majority across the union.

Northern Ireland elected more Irish nationalists to Britain's parliament than pro-British unionists for the first time on Friday, after the largest nationalist party Sinn Fein narrowly won the final of the region's 18 seats.

Northern Ireland elected more Irish nationalists to Britain's parliament than pro-British unionists for the first time on Friday, after the largest nationalist party Sinn Fein narrowly won the final of the region's 18 seats. That meant Sinn Fein kept its seven seats and the resurgent fellow pro-Irish SDLP won two, combining to pass the Democratic Unionist Party, which fell from 10 seats to eight. The cross-community Alliance Party took the final seat, adding to the majority of anti-Brexit MPs after its share of the total vote rocketed by almost 10 per cent. A first since the partition of Ireland in 1921, the result led to increased calls from Sinn Fein for a vote to split from the rest of the United Kingdom, as Prime Minister Boris Johnson won a resounding majority across the union.

In a first, Irish nationalists overtake unionists at UK election

Dogs stole the show at voting centres in the UK as Boris Johnson took his dog to the polling station to cast his vote in the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uk-general-election-2019-young-voters-throng-polling-booths-as-brexit-dominates-267876">general election</a>.

Bringing a light-heartedness to the general election, London mayor Sadiq Khan also took his dog to the polling station.&nbsp;

The hashtag #dogsatpollingstations immediately started trending on micro-blogging site Twitter as soon as the pictures emerged of leaders arriving at the polling station with their four-legged friends.

Meanwhile, Boris Johnson also broke a tradition as he cast his vote at a polling station in central London rather than in his Uxbridge and South Ruislip constituency.

In past general elections, leaders have been voting in their own constituencies. In 2005, Tony Blair votes from his constituency of Sedgefield. In 2015, David Cameron voted in his seat in Witney, and in 2017 then-prime minister Theresa May voted from her Maidenhead seat.

Thursday's election will either pave the way for Brexit under a Johnson-led government or propel Britain towards another referendum that could ultimately reverse the decision to leave the European Union.

Some 49 million voters are set to cast their votes on Thursday in what could be described as one of the most crucial polls in a generation.

After failing to deliver Brexit by an October 31 deadline, Johnson called the election to break what he cast as political paralysis that had thwarted Britain's departure and sapped confidence in the economy.

The face of the "Leave" campaign in the 2016 referendum, 55-year-old Johnson fought the election under the slogan of "Get Brexit Done", promising to end the deadlock and spend more on health, education and the police.

His main opponent, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, 70, promised higher public spending, nationalisation of key services, taxes on the wealthy and another referendum on Brexit.

Exit polls can be expected as soon as the polling ends, but the final result could be declared as late as Friday evening.

(With inputs from agencies) 
&nbsp;

Dogs stole the show at voting centres in the UK as Boris Johnson took his dog to the polling station to cast his vote in the general election. Bringing a light-heartedness to the general election, London mayor Sadiq Khan also took his dog to the polling station.

Dogs stole the show at voting centres in the UK as Boris Johnson took his dog to the polling station to cast his vote in the general election. Bringing a light-heartedness to the general election, London mayor Sadiq Khan also took his dog to the polling station. The hashtag #dogsatpollingstations immediately started trending on micro-blogging site Twitter as soon as the pictures emerged of leaders arriving at the polling station with their four-legged friends. Meanwhile, Boris Johnson also broke a tradition as he cast his vote at a polling station in central London rather than in his Uxbridge and South Ruislip constituency. In past general elections, leaders have been voting in their own constituencies. In 2005, Tony Blair votes from his constituency of Sedgefield. In 2015, David Cameron voted in his seat in Witney, and in 2017 then-prime minister Theresa May voted from her Maidenhead seat. Thursday's election will either pave the way for Brexit under a Johnson-led government or propel Britain towards another referendum that could ultimately reverse the decision to leave the European Union. Some 49 million voters are set to cast their votes on Thursday in what could be described as one of the most crucial polls in a generation. After failing to deliver Brexit by an October 31 deadline, Johnson called the election to break what he cast as political paralysis that had thwarted Britain's departure and sapped confidence in the economy. The face of the "Leave" campaign in the 2016 referendum, 55-year-old Johnson fought the election under the slogan of "Get Brexit Done", promising to end the deadlock and spend more on health, education and the police. His main opponent, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, 70, promised higher public spending, nationalisation of key services, taxes on the wealthy and another referendum on Brexit. Exit polls can be expected as soon as the polling ends, but the final result could be declared as late as Friday evening. (With inputs from agencies)

UK general election: Dogs steal the show as Johnson, London Mayor vote with their four-legged friend

In the last four years this is the third election in UK. Who will be the next Prime Minister of UK.

U.K: Three election in four years all for Brexit

On Thursday, Britons will vote for what will be the third <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/with-brexit-and-economy-at-stake-britain-braces-for-third-election-in-four-years-267352">general election </a>in less than five years. Britain Prime Minister Boris Johnson describes the polls as the most important in a generation.&nbsp;

So, as the UK heads to polls, let's look at how the last three elections played out.&nbsp;

2010 election: Coalition government

Ahead of the global financial crisis in 2007, Labour's Gordon Brown took over from Tony Blair and became the prime minister of the country in 2007.

In the 2010 election, televised debates of leaders took place for the first time. The support for Liberal Democrats rose after Clegg's performance in the debate.&nbsp;

The trends showed that the support for the centre-left Labour declined as voters turned to David Cameron's Conservatives and Nick Clegg's centrist Liberal Democrats.

However, when the results were announced, Britain witnessed hung parliament, the second since World War II. The Conservatives won 306 seats and Liberal Democrat ended with 57 seats. The hung parliament is rare in Britain as they follow the first-past-the-post system. &nbsp;

Immediately after the results, Cameron reached out to the Liberal Democrats. Brown remained in the office during the coalition talks, hoping to persuade Clegg to shake hands with Labour.&nbsp;

However, Cameron became the prime minister of Britain as Conservatives and Liberal Democrats formed an alliance.

2015: Suprise victory for Cameron

Cameron pledged in 2015 that if he will get another term, a referendum will be held to decide Britain's membership in the European Union.&nbsp;

The poll pundits predicted another hung parliament, however, when results were declared, Conservatives pulled off a slender victory and improved its 2010 tally with 330 seats. The results meant that Conservatives can form the government on their own.&nbsp;

The elections saw the worst tally for Liberal Democrats since their formation in 1988, winning only eight seats. The Scottish National Party (SNP) gained big as it won 56 out of the 59 seats in Scotland.

The vote share of Labour improved but, still, they lost more seats as compared to 2010.

2017: Theresa May's gamble fails

After the Brexit referendum, Theresa May became the prime minister of the UK. May feared that in order to pass Brexit a small majority might not be enough and therefore she called a snap election.

However, the gamble did not pay off and the Conservatives lost 13 seats to end up with 307. The results meant that a Conservative minority government came to power after getting support from Northern Ireland's Democratic Unionists (DUP).

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn's energetic campaign and May's wooden performances were the reasons behind the decline of the Conservatives.&nbsp;

In this election, voters once again entrusted the main parties as the Conservatives won 42 per cent and Labour 40 per cent of votes.&nbsp;

May failed to get the Brexit done and was replaced by Boris Johnson after she quit in July 2019.&nbsp;

(with inputs from AFP)

On Thursday, Britons will vote for what will be the third general election in less than five years. Britain Prime Minister Boris Johnson describes the polls as the most important in a generation.

On Thursday, Britons will vote for what will be the third general election in less than five years. Britain Prime Minister Boris Johnson describes the polls as the most important in a generation. So, as the UK heads to polls, let's look at how the last three elections played out. 2010 election: Coalition government Ahead of the global financial crisis in 2007, Labour's Gordon Brown took over from Tony Blair and became the prime minister of the country in 2007. In the 2010 election, televised debates of leaders took place for the first time. The support for Liberal Democrats rose after Clegg's performance in the debate. The trends showed that the support for the centre-left Labour declined as voters turned to David Cameron's Conservatives and Nick Clegg's centrist Liberal Democrats. However, when the results were announced, Britain witnessed hung parliament, the second since World War II. The Conservatives won 306 seats and Liberal Democrat ended with 57 seats. The hung parliament is rare in Britain as they follow the first-past-the-post system. Immediately after the results, Cameron reached out to the Liberal Democrats. Brown remained in the office during the coalition talks, hoping to persuade Clegg to shake hands with Labour. However, Cameron became the prime minister of Britain as Conservatives and Liberal Democrats formed an alliance. 2015: Suprise victory for Cameron Cameron pledged in 2015 that if he will get another term, a referendum will be held to decide Britain's membership in the European Union. The poll pundits predicted another hung parliament, however, when results were declared, Conservatives pulled off a slender victory and improved its 2010 tally with 330 seats. The results meant that Conservatives can form the government on their own. The elections saw the worst tally for Liberal Democrats since their formation in 1988, winning only eight seats. The Scottish National Party (SNP) gained big as it won 56 out of the 59 seats in Scotland. The vote share of Labour improved but, still, they lost more seats as compared to 2010. 2017: Theresa May's gamble fails After the Brexit referendum, Theresa May became the prime minister of the UK. May feared that in order to pass Brexit a small majority might not be enough and therefore she called a snap election. However, the gamble did not pay off and the Conservatives lost 13 seats to end up with 307. The results meant that a Conservative minority government came to power after getting support from Northern Ireland's Democratic Unionists (DUP). Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn's energetic campaign and May's wooden performances were the reasons behind the decline of the Conservatives. In this election, voters once again entrusted the main parties as the Conservatives won 42 per cent and Labour 40 per cent of votes. May failed to get the Brexit done and was replaced by Boris Johnson after she quit in July 2019. (with inputs from AFP)

As Britain heads to polls, a glance at last three elections

Polling stations have opened across the UK in the general election. Voters across the UK head to the ballot box for the third general election since 2015. Boris Johnson breaks tradition by not voting in his constituency. Earlier Johnson was photographed casting his vote at a polling station in central London rather than in his Uxbridge and South Ruislip constituency.

WION Dispatch: Polling underway in UK general elections

To decide the future of Brexit, voters&nbsp;across the United Kingdom went&nbsp;to the polls on Thursday to cast their vote in the third general&nbsp;election in less than five-years.

Soon after the polls were opened, large queues were formed outside the polling venues. Interestingly among the voters, large numbers of young voters were seen standing in the queues to vote for their leader despite the freezing weather.

According to a report by UK daily,&nbsp;almost a third of people who registered to vote are under 25. It is expected that&nbsp;young voters could play a critical role in this general election.

People also took micro-blogging site Twitter to express their surprise over the long queues.

"I've been living in Balham, London for 6 years, I have never seen a queue like this at my polling station," Aidan Conway wrote on Twitter.

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<a href="https://twitter.com/BBCNews?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BBCNews</a> I've been living in Balham, London for 6 years, I have never seen a queue like this at my polling station. <a href="https://t.co/JCjVdeGruo">pic.twitter.com/JCjVdeGruo</a>
— Aidan Cönway (@onzlo99) <a href="https://twitter.com/onzlo99/status/1205034419968446464?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 12, 2019</a></blockquote>
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"First time in 20 years that I've seen a queue at my polling station," Sue Christoforou tweeted.

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First time in 20 years that I’ve seen a queue at my polling station. <a href="https://t.co/PddeJ12i19">pic.twitter.com/PddeJ12i19</a>
— Sue Christoforou (@SueChristoforou) <a href="https://twitter.com/SueChristoforou/status/1205039591197233152?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 12, 2019</a></blockquote>
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Another voter tweeted "Massive queues, feeling hopeful. Could be Brexiters but a lot of those queues seem to be young voters."

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Massive queues, feeling hopeful. Could be Brexiters but a lot of those queues seem to be young voters <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GeneralElection2019?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GeneralElection2019</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/YouthQuake?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#YouthQuake</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TimeForChange?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TimeForChange</a> <a href="https://t.co/o2ApPx9a2w">pic.twitter.com/o2ApPx9a2w</a>
— Francesca (@Francescax456) <a href="https://twitter.com/Francescax456/status/1205078625659297792?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 12, 2019</a></blockquote>
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In the past, long queues have been a rare sight in general elections in the UK.&nbsp;

UK daily The&nbsp;Guardian reported citing a research that, "Only 2% of poll workers reported a problem with queues at the 2018 and 2019 local elections, while 6% reported problems at the 2015 general election."

Meanwhile, people on social media as well encouraged registered voters to vote for their leaders.

Voters went to the polls on Thursday in an election that will pave the way for Brexit under Prime Minister Boris Johnson or propel Britain towards another referendum that could ultimately reverse the decision to leave the European Union.

After failing to deliver Brexit by an Oct. 31 deadline, Johnson called the election to break what he cast as political paralysis that had thwarted Britain's departure and sapped confidence in the economy.

The face of the "Leave" campaign in the 2016 referendum, 55-year-old Johnson fought the election under the slogan of "Get Brexit Done", promising to end the deadlock and spend more on health, education and the police.

His main opponent, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, 70, promised higher public spending, nationalisation of key services, taxes on the wealthy and another referendum on Brexit.

Polls opened at 0700 GMT and will close at 2200 GMT when an exit poll will give the first indications of the result. Official results from the bulk of the United Kingdom's 650 constituencies begin to come in from 2300 GMT to 0500 GMT.

(With inputs from agencies)

 
&nbsp;

To decide the future of Brexit, voters across the United Kingdom went to the polls on Thursday to cast their vote in the third general election in less than five-years.

To decide the future of Brexit, voters across the United Kingdom went to the polls on Thursday to cast their vote in the third general election in less than five-years. Soon after the polls were opened, large queues were formed outside the polling venues. Interestingly among the voters, large numbers of young voters were seen standing in the queues to vote for their leader despite the freezing weather. According to a report by UK daily, almost a third of people who registered to vote are under 25. It is expected that young voters could play a critical role in this general election. People also took micro-blogging site Twitter to express their surprise over the long queues. "I've been living in Balham, London for 6 years, I have never seen a queue like this at my polling station," Aidan Conway wrote on Twitter. @BBCNews I've been living in Balham, London for 6 years, I have never seen a queue like this at my polling station. pic.twitter.com/JCjVdeGruo — Aidan Cönway (@onzlo99) December 12, 2019 × "First time in 20 years that I've seen a queue at my polling station," Sue Christoforou tweeted. First time in 20 years that I’ve seen a queue at my polling station. pic.twitter.com/PddeJ12i19 — Sue Christoforou (@SueChristoforou) December 12, 2019 × Another voter tweeted "Massive queues, feeling hopeful. Could be Brexiters but a lot of those queues seem to be young voters." Massive queues, feeling hopeful. Could be Brexiters but a lot of those queues seem to be young voters #GeneralElection2019 #YouthQuake #TimeForChange pic.twitter.com/o2ApPx9a2w — Francesca (@Francescax456) December 12, 2019 × In the past, long queues have been a rare sight in general elections in the UK. UK daily The Guardian reported citing a research that, "Only 2% of poll workers reported a problem with queues at the 2018 and 2019 local elections, while 6% reported problems at the 2015 general election." Meanwhile, people on social media as well encouraged registered voters to vote for their leaders. Voters went to the polls on Thursday in an election that will pave the way for Brexit under Prime Minister Boris Johnson or propel Britain towards another referendum that could ultimately reverse the decision to leave the European Union. After failing to deliver Brexit by an Oct. 31 deadline, Johnson called the election to break what he cast as political paralysis that had thwarted Britain's departure and sapped confidence in the economy. The face of the "Leave" campaign in the 2016 referendum, 55-year-old Johnson fought the election under the slogan of "Get Brexit Done", promising to end the deadlock and spend more on health, education and the police. His main opponent, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, 70, promised higher public spending, nationalisation of key services, taxes on the wealthy and another referendum on Brexit. Polls opened at 0700 GMT and will close at 2200 GMT when an exit poll will give the first indications of the result. Official results from the bulk of the United Kingdom's 650 constituencies begin to come in from 2300 GMT to 0500 GMT. (With inputs from agencies)

UK general election 2019: Young voters throng polling booths as Brexit dominates

Polling stations have opened across England for voting in the 2019 UK General Election. About 46 million voters are eligible to elect 650 members of Parliament to the House of Commons, 533 of whom are for constituencies in England.

UK Election 2019: Polling stations open across UK

Voters go to the polls on Thursday in an election that will pave the way for Brexit under Prime Minister <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/with-conservatives-leading-polls-britain-heads-to-landmark-winter-election-to-determine-its-road-ahead-267785">Boris Johnson</a> or propel Britain towards another referendum that could ultimately reverse the decision to leave the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/british-general-election-a-look-at-possible-outcomes-of-the-uk-vote-267764">European Union</a>.

After failing to deliver Brexit by an October&nbsp;31 deadline, Johnson called the December&nbsp;12 election to break what he cast as political paralysis that had thwarted Britain's departure and sapped confidence in the economy.

The face of the "Leave" campaign in the 2016 referendum, 55-year-old Johnson fought the election under the slogan of "Get Brexit Done", promising to end the deadlock and spend more on health, education and the police.

His main opponent, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, 70, promised higher public spending, nationalisation of key services, taxes on the wealthy and another referendum on Brexit.

All major opinion polls suggest Johnson will win, though pollsters got the 2016 referendum wrong and their models predict outcomes ranging from a hung parliament to the biggest Conservative landslide since the era of Margaret Thatcher.

"We could have a Conservative majority government which will get <a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/uk-three-election-in-four-years-all-for-brexit-267773">Brexit</a> done and unleash Britain’s potential," Johnson told campaigners. "This election is our chance to end the gridlock but the result is on a knife-edge."

Corbyn said the Conservatives were the party of "billionaires" while Labour represented the many.

"You can vote for despair and vote for the dishonesty of this government, or you can vote Labour and get a government that can bring hope to the future," he said.

Polls open at 0700 GMT and close at 2200 GMT when an exit poll will give the first indications of the result. Official results from the bulk of United Kingdom's 650 different constituencies begin to come in from 2300 GMT to 0500 GMT.

While Brexit framed the United Kingdom's first December election since 1923, the tortuous exit from the EU has variously fatigued, enthused and enraged voters while eroding loyalties to the two major parties.

A majority would allow Johnson to lead the country out of the club it first joined in 1973, but Brexit would still be far from over. He faces the daunting task of negotiating a trade agreement with the EU in a self-imposed deadline of 11 months.

After January&nbsp;31, Britain would enter a transition period during which it would negotiate a new relationship with the EU27. He has pledged to do that by the end of 2020.

Sterling markets are pricing in a Johnson win. But a five-year flurry of two historic referendums&nbsp;on Scottish independence in 2014 and Brexit in 2016 and two national elections in 2015 and 2017 have delivered often unexpected results that ushered in political crises.

The election pitches two of the most unconventional British politicians of recent years against each other. Both have been repeatedly written off by opponents and both offer starkly different visions for the world's fifth-largest economy.

Johnson's pitch is Brexit but he shrank from anything more radical in a heavily choreographed campaign. Corbyn pitched what he calls a radical transformation for a country long wedded to free-market liberalism.

Johnson, the New York-born former mayor of London, won the top job in July. His predecessor, Theresa May, resigned after failing to get parliamentary backing for her Brexit deal with the EU and then losing her party's majority in a snap election.

Johnson defied critics by striking a new deal with the EU but was unable to navigate the maze of a divided British parliament and was defeated by opponents whom he portrayed as traitors subverting the will of the people.

The United Kingdom voted by 52 per cent -48&nbsp;per cent in 2016 to quit the EU. But parliament has been deadlocked since May's failed bet on a 2017 snap election over how, when and even whether to leave.

Corbyn, once an opponent of the EU who now says he would remain neutral if he was a prime minister overseeing another referendum, was repeatedly grilled over his Brexit plans. He pledged to overthrow a "rigged system" he said was run by billionaires and tax dodgers.

Both made missteps during the campaign.

Johnson in one interview refused to look at a picture of a sick four-year-old boy forced to lie on the floor of a hospital and then inexplicably took the phone from a reporter and pocketed it. He later apologised.

Corbyn, a veteran campaigner for Palestinian rights, repeatedly avoided apologising for what some party members, lawmakers and Jewish leaders say is his failure to tackle anti-Semitism from some elements within the party. He apologised eventually.

Johnson's strategy was to breach Labour's so-called "Red Wall" of seats across the Brexit-supporting areas of the Midlands and northern England where he described his political opponents as the out-of-touch enemies of Brexit.

"If I’m honest with you, there’s no choice," said voter Andrew Davis, from Kent in southern England. "I don’t like any of the main candidates, so I’m struggling."

&nbsp;

Voters go to the polls on Thursday in an election that will pave the way for Brexit under Prime Minister Boris Johnson or propel Britain towards another referendum that could ultimately reverse the decision to leave the European Union.

Voters go to the polls on Thursday in an election that will pave the way for Brexit under Prime Minister Boris Johnson or propel Britain towards another referendum that could ultimately reverse the decision to leave the European Union. After failing to deliver Brexit by an October 31 deadline, Johnson called the December 12 election to break what he cast as political paralysis that had thwarted Britain's departure and sapped confidence in the economy. The face of the "Leave" campaign in the 2016 referendum, 55-year-old Johnson fought the election under the slogan of "Get Brexit Done", promising to end the deadlock and spend more on health, education and the police. His main opponent, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, 70, promised higher public spending, nationalisation of key services, taxes on the wealthy and another referendum on Brexit. All major opinion polls suggest Johnson will win, though pollsters got the 2016 referendum wrong and their models predict outcomes ranging from a hung parliament to the biggest Conservative landslide since the era of Margaret Thatcher. "We could have a Conservative majority government which will get Brexit done and unleash Britain’s potential," Johnson told campaigners. "This election is our chance to end the gridlock but the result is on a knife-edge." Corbyn said the Conservatives were the party of "billionaires" while Labour represented the many. "You can vote for despair and vote for the dishonesty of this government, or you can vote Labour and get a government that can bring hope to the future," he said. Polls open at 0700 GMT and close at 2200 GMT when an exit poll will give the first indications of the result. Official results from the bulk of United Kingdom's 650 different constituencies begin to come in from 2300 GMT to 0500 GMT. While Brexit framed the United Kingdom's first December election since 1923, the tortuous exit from the EU has variously fatigued, enthused and enraged voters while eroding loyalties to the two major parties. A majority would allow Johnson to lead the country out of the club it first joined in 1973, but Brexit would still be far from over. He faces the daunting task of negotiating a trade agreement with the EU in a self-imposed deadline of 11 months. After January 31, Britain would enter a transition period during which it would negotiate a new relationship with the EU27. He has pledged to do that by the end of 2020. Sterling markets are pricing in a Johnson win. But a five-year flurry of two historic referendums on Scottish independence in 2014 and Brexit in 2016 and two national elections in 2015 and 2017 have delivered often unexpected results that ushered in political crises. The election pitches two of the most unconventional British politicians of recent years against each other. Both have been repeatedly written off by opponents and both offer starkly different visions for the world's fifth-largest economy. Johnson's pitch is Brexit but he shrank from anything more radical in a heavily choreographed campaign. Corbyn pitched what he calls a radical transformation for a country long wedded to free-market liberalism. Johnson, the New York-born former mayor of London, won the top job in July. His predecessor, Theresa May, resigned after failing to get parliamentary backing for her Brexit deal with the EU and then losing her party's majority in a snap election. Johnson defied critics by striking a new deal with the EU but was unable to navigate the maze of a divided British parliament and was defeated by opponents whom he portrayed as traitors subverting the will of the people. The United Kingdom voted by 52 per cent -48 per cent in 2016 to quit the EU. But parliament has been deadlocked since May's failed bet on a 2017 snap election over how, when and even whether to leave. Corbyn, once an opponent of the EU who now says he would remain neutral if he was a prime minister overseeing another referendum, was repeatedly grilled over his Brexit plans. He pledged to overthrow a "rigged system" he said was run by billionaires and tax dodgers. Both made missteps during the campaign. Johnson in one interview refused to look at a picture of a sick four-year-old boy forced to lie on the floor of a hospital and then inexplicably took the phone from a reporter and pocketed it. He later apologised. Corbyn, a veteran campaigner for Palestinian rights, repeatedly avoided apologising for what some party members, lawmakers and Jewish leaders say is his failure to tackle anti-Semitism from some elements within the party. He apologised eventually. Johnson's strategy was to breach Labour's so-called "Red Wall" of seats across the Brexit-supporting areas of the Midlands and northern England where he described his political opponents as the out-of-touch enemies of Brexit. "If I’m honest with you, there’s no choice," said voter Andrew Davis, from Kent in southern England. "I don’t like any of the main candidates, so I’m struggling."

United Kingdom votes to decide the fate of Brexit, again

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has left no stone unturned to impress the voters to win UK elections 2019. He visited Grimsby Fish Market as part of a visit to the region as the Tories look to take the Great Grimsby seat from Labour's Melanie Onn. Apart from holding a fish Johnson also caressed a rabbit, sheared a sheep, posed with a cow and served food and sweets.

UK Elections 2019: Boris Johnson going all out to impress voters

In the UK general elections and the fight to the finish between Boris Johnson and Jeremy Corbyn. The question is can Boris Johnson ride the Brexit wave back to 10 Downing street. The last round of campaigning is always the most hard and the United Kingdom is no exception. Boris Johnson was seen driving a bulldozer through a wall of foam bricks with 'Get Brexit Done' written on it. Watch video to know more.

UK Election 2019: Can 'bulldozing Boris' get Brexit done?

The British pound bounced back Wednesday ahead of a <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ultra-rich-attract-interest-in-britains-general-election-campaign-267556">UK general election</a>, even as a fresh poll predicted Prime Minister Boris Johnson's ruling Conservatives would win a much smaller majority than previously forecast.

Sterling initially fell sharply before recouping losses to show a gain of 0.2 per cent against the dollar in afternoon exchanges.

Pre-election jitters continued to weigh, however, on the British capital's FTSE 100 index of blue-chip companies, which was down 0.2 per cent as caution prevailed.

A key poll released late Tuesday showed Johnson's lead over veteran socialist Jeremy Corbyn's Labour party ebbing away.

"The highly-regarded poll shows that the Conservative advantage has slipped. This is the poll that correctly predicted a hung parliament in 2017 -- and indicates that the scenario could repeat itself," said analyst Fiona Cincotta at trading firm City Index.

The YouGov opinion poll said the Tories would win Thursday's vote, with a majority of 28 seats, sharply down from the 68 forecast in a similar study at the end of November.

Sterling has surged in recent weeks -- sitting at an eight-month high against the greenback and a two-and-a-half-year peak against the euro -- on expectations Johnson would win a big enough majority to push through his Brexit deal.

However, the narrowing polls point to the possibility of another hung parliament -- which would lead to more uncertainty in Westminster and drag out the Britain-EU saga even longer.

"There's a bit of a waiting mode at the moment," Oanda analyst Craig Erlam told AFP.

"There's probably too much optimism in the market right now, a bit of complacency even."

As trading got underway in New York, the Dow Jones index showed a loss of 0.1 per cent.

- Asia mostly climbs - 
Elsewhere, Asian markets mostly rose Wednesday but investors are growing nervous at the lack of news on China-US trade talks, with Washington yet to cancel tariffs on a swathe of Chinese goods planned for the weekend.

Negotiators are still trying to hammer out a mini agreement and the mood on trading floors remains upbeat, while most observers are confident the two sides will reach a deal, which has fed a global equities rally for weeks.

However, a fresh round of levies on $160 billion of Chinese exports to the US is due to be imposed on December 15, and there has been no word from the White House on a possible delay to that date.

The removal of tariffs is a key demand of Beijing in the talks.

And on Tuesday Donald Trump's top economics adviser Larry Kudlow warned that the measures remained in play for now.

The Federal Reserve's policy decision later Wednesday is in focus too, with the central bank's plans for monetary policy next year being watched closely.

Analysts nonetheless widely expect the central bank to hold off making any moves on interest rates as it assesses the state of the US economy.

In company news, shares in Saudi Aramco soared 10 percent on their trading debut on the Saudi stock exchange, boosting the energy titan's valuation to $1.88 trillion.

The British pound bounced back Wednesday ahead of a UK general election, even as a fresh poll predicted Prime Minister Boris Johnson's ruling Conservatives would win a much smaller majority than previously forecast.

The British pound bounced back Wednesday ahead of a UK general election, even as a fresh poll predicted Prime Minister Boris Johnson's ruling Conservatives would win a much smaller majority than previously forecast. Sterling initially fell sharply before recouping losses to show a gain of 0.2 per cent against the dollar in afternoon exchanges. Pre-election jitters continued to weigh, however, on the British capital's FTSE 100 index of blue-chip companies, which was down 0.2 per cent as caution prevailed. A key poll released late Tuesday showed Johnson's lead over veteran socialist Jeremy Corbyn's Labour party ebbing away. "The highly-regarded poll shows that the Conservative advantage has slipped. This is the poll that correctly predicted a hung parliament in 2017 -- and indicates that the scenario could repeat itself," said analyst Fiona Cincotta at trading firm City Index. The YouGov opinion poll said the Tories would win Thursday's vote, with a majority of 28 seats, sharply down from the 68 forecast in a similar study at the end of November. Sterling has surged in recent weeks -- sitting at an eight-month high against the greenback and a two-and-a-half-year peak against the euro -- on expectations Johnson would win a big enough majority to push through his Brexit deal. However, the narrowing polls point to the possibility of another hung parliament -- which would lead to more uncertainty in Westminster and drag out the Britain-EU saga even longer. "There's a bit of a waiting mode at the moment," Oanda analyst Craig Erlam told AFP. "There's probably too much optimism in the market right now, a bit of complacency even." As trading got underway in New York, the Dow Jones index showed a loss of 0.1 per cent. - Asia mostly climbs - Elsewhere, Asian markets mostly rose Wednesday but investors are growing nervous at the lack of news on China-US trade talks, with Washington yet to cancel tariffs on a swathe of Chinese goods planned for the weekend. Negotiators are still trying to hammer out a mini agreement and the mood on trading floors remains upbeat, while most observers are confident the two sides will reach a deal, which has fed a global equities rally for weeks. However, a fresh round of levies on $160 billion of Chinese exports to the US is due to be imposed on December 15, and there has been no word from the White House on a possible delay to that date. The removal of tariffs is a key demand of Beijing in the talks. And on Tuesday Donald Trump's top economics adviser Larry Kudlow warned that the measures remained in play for now. The Federal Reserve's policy decision later Wednesday is in focus too, with the central bank's plans for monetary policy next year being watched closely. Analysts nonetheless widely expect the central bank to hold off making any moves on interest rates as it assesses the state of the US economy. In company news, shares in Saudi Aramco soared 10 percent on their trading debut on the Saudi stock exchange, boosting the energy titan's valuation to $1.88 trillion.

Sterling rebounds on eve of UK election

Boris Johnson & Jeremy Corbyn Are Going The Extra Mile To Win U.K. Elections.

Gravitas: How far can U.K.'s politicians go to win votes

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions/turkey-and-china-tie-themselves-in-knots-over-syria-and-xinjiang-257735">Turkey</a>&nbsp;said on Wednesday it would&nbsp;retaliate&nbsp;against&nbsp;any&nbsp;US&nbsp;sanctions&nbsp;over its purchase of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/russia-turkey-may-sign-new-contract-on-s-400-systems-in-2020-ria-264578">Russian defence systems</a>, adding that with Britain it had agreed to speed up a joint fighter jet programme to meet Turkish defence needs.

US&nbsp;lawmakers will&nbsp;vote and likely pass a defence bill later on Wednesday that calls for&nbsp;sanctions&nbsp;against&nbsp;Turkey&nbsp;over Ankara's decision to procure the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/first-part-of-russian-s-400-missile-defence-system-delivered-turkey-235249">S-400</a> defences.

Turkey&nbsp;and the United States,<a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions/nato-meeting-solidarity-reinforced-despite-uncomfortable-time-for-alliance-to-be-in-the-spotlight-266584"> NATO</a> allies, have been at odds over the purchase.

Washington&nbsp;says&nbsp;the S-400s pose a threat to its F-35 fighter jets and cannot be integrated into NATO defences. In response, it has suspended&nbsp;Turkey&nbsp;from the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/turkey-still-committed-to-purchasing-us-f-35-fighters-foreign-minister-246735">F-35</a> jet programme, where it was a manufacturer and buyer, and threatened&nbsp;sanctions.

In an interview with Turkish broadcaster A Haber, Foreign Minister <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/turkey-threatens-new-syria-operations-directs-us-russia-to-fulfill-agreement-263046">Mevlut Cavusoglu</a> said&nbsp;any&nbsp;US&nbsp;sanctions&nbsp;would harm&nbsp;US-Turkish ties and repeated a threat of retaliation.

"US&nbsp;lawmakers must understand they will get nowhere with impositions. If the United States approaches us positively, we will also react positively. But, if they take negative towards us, then we will&nbsp;retaliate&nbsp;these," Cavusoglu said.

Ties between Ankara and Washington have been strained over a host of issues&nbsp;in recent years.&nbsp;Turkey&nbsp;has been engaged with the&nbsp;US&nbsp;support for the Syrian Kurdish YPG militia, which Cavusoglu called the "financing of terrorism" on Wednesday.

He added that&nbsp;Turkey&nbsp;was open to alternatives to buying the F-35 jets, including from Russia. He said President <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-biggest-jailer-of-journalists-turkey-second-worst-report-267594">Tayyip Erdogan</a> and British Prime Minister<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/uk-elections-2019-boris-johnson-going-all-out-to-impress-voters-267573"> Boris Johnson </a>had discussed speeding up work on the TF-X joint fighter jet project to meet&nbsp;Turkey's defence needs.

"We bought the S-400s because the most suitable offer for air defence systems came from Russia. Until we produce it ourselves, the alternative to the F-35 could be the Russian market, but we are open to other alternatives too," Cavusoglu said.

Turkey&nbsp;and Britain agreed a 100 million pound ($133 million) deal in 2017 to develop Turkish fighter jets, and&nbsp;Turkey's Kale Group said it was setting up a joint venture with Rolls-Royce to work on the project. In March Rolls-Royce said it had scaled back efforts to join the programme.

A Turkish source said the disagreement with Rolls-Royce stemmed from licensing issues, which are "critical and indispensable" for&nbsp;Turkey. But the source said talks had been revived and added&nbsp;Turkey&nbsp;expected the project to advance after a solution was reached.

Turkey said on Wednesday it would retaliate against any US sanctions over its purchase of Russian defence systems, adding that with Britain it had agreed to speed up a joint fighter jet programme to meet Turkish defence needs.

Turkey said on Wednesday it would retaliate against any US sanctions over its purchase of Russian defence systems, adding that with Britain it had agreed to speed up a joint fighter jet programme to meet Turkish defence needs. US lawmakers will vote and likely pass a defence bill later on Wednesday that calls for sanctions against Turkey over Ankara's decision to procure the S-400 defences. Turkey and the United States, NATO allies, have been at odds over the purchase. Washington says the S-400s pose a threat to its F-35 fighter jets and cannot be integrated into NATO defences. In response, it has suspended Turkey from the F-35 jet programme, where it was a manufacturer and buyer, and threatened sanctions. In an interview with Turkish broadcaster A Haber, Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said any US sanctions would harm US-Turkish ties and repeated a threat of retaliation. "US lawmakers must understand they will get nowhere with impositions. If the United States approaches us positively, we will also react positively. But, if they take negative towards us, then we will retaliate these," Cavusoglu said. Ties between Ankara and Washington have been strained over a host of issues in recent years. Turkey has been engaged with the US support for the Syrian Kurdish YPG militia, which Cavusoglu called the "financing of terrorism" on Wednesday. He added that Turkey was open to alternatives to buying the F-35 jets, including from Russia. He said President Tayyip Erdogan and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson had discussed speeding up work on the TF-X joint fighter jet project to meet Turkey's defence needs. "We bought the S-400s because the most suitable offer for air defence systems came from Russia. Until we produce it ourselves, the alternative to the F-35 could be the Russian market, but we are open to other alternatives too," Cavusoglu said. Turkey and Britain agreed a 100 million pound ($133 million) deal in 2017 to develop Turkish fighter jets, and Turkey's Kale Group said it was setting up a joint venture with Rolls-Royce to work on the project. In March Rolls-Royce said it had scaled back efforts to join the programme. A Turkish source said the disagreement with Rolls-Royce stemmed from licensing issues, which are "critical and indispensable" for Turkey. But the source said talks had been revived and added Turkey expected the project to advance after a solution was reached.

Turkey says will retaliate against any sanctions ahead of US vote

Britain is set to go back to the ballot boxes in three days, to pick its Prime Minister for the third time since 2015.

It's predicted to be one of the most volatile general elections in decades.

It is not just Brexit that is at stake, whoever gets the keys to Downing Street will radically influence the country's economy, public services and the road ahead. 
&nbsp; 
The people of Britain are set to elect 650 Members of Parliament into the House of Commons that is going to decide laws and policies for the country. While most of those contesting elections belong to a political party, some do stand as Independents.

Like India, the United Kingdom also holds general elections every five years but due to Brexit, three elections have already taken place in the last four years.

In the 2015 general elections, the National Health Service and immigration were the biggest concern for the voters. In 2019, however, these concerns have been overtaken by Britain's departure from the European Union - Brexit - as the prime concern for everyone. 
&nbsp; 
The purpose of these Christmas elections is to break the Brexit deadlock in parliament, but it is a huge gamble for Prime Minister of Britain and leader of the Conservative Party, Boris Johnson.

Politicians remain divided on the issue with some demanding the UK to leave the EU as soon as possible, some demanding another referendum, and others to cancel Brexit altogether.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson does not currently have enough MPs to easily pass new laws, he hopes an early election will increase the number of Conservative MPs, making his Brexit plans easier to achieve.

If the UK Prime Minister fails, pro-remain parties will try to stop Brexit altogether.

The Labour Party wants to renegotiate Johnson's Brexit deal and put it to another referendum.

The Liberal Democrats under the leadership of Jo Swinson have pledged to cancel Brexit if they are voted to power at the general elections.

The Scottish National Party, Welsh Party plaid CYMRU and the Greens are all in favour of a second referendum.

Britain is to start voting between 7:00 am and 10:00 pm on December 12. The results are to declared through the night and the following day.

Once the final result is announced, the leader of the winning party visits Buckingham Palace to ask the Queen for permission to form a new government after which they might stand outside to deliver a speech about their party's plans for the coming term.&nbsp;

Britain is set to go back to the ballot boxes in three days, to pick its Prime Minister for the third time since 2015. It's predicted to be one of the most volatile general elections in decades.

Britain is set to go back to the ballot boxes in three days, to pick its Prime Minister for the third time since 2015. It's predicted to be one of the most volatile general elections in decades. It is not just Brexit that is at stake, whoever gets the keys to Downing Street will radically influence the country's economy, public services and the road ahead. The people of Britain are set to elect 650 Members of Parliament into the House of Commons that is going to decide laws and policies for the country. While most of those contesting elections belong to a political party, some do stand as Independents. Like India, the United Kingdom also holds general elections every five years but due to Brexit, three elections have already taken place in the last four years. In the 2015 general elections, the National Health Service and immigration were the biggest concern for the voters. In 2019, however, these concerns have been overtaken by Britain's departure from the European Union - Brexit - as the prime concern for everyone. The purpose of these Christmas elections is to break the Brexit deadlock in parliament, but it is a huge gamble for Prime Minister of Britain and leader of the Conservative Party, Boris Johnson. Politicians remain divided on the issue with some demanding the UK to leave the EU as soon as possible, some demanding another referendum, and others to cancel Brexit altogether. Prime Minister Boris Johnson does not currently have enough MPs to easily pass new laws, he hopes an early election will increase the number of Conservative MPs, making his Brexit plans easier to achieve. If the UK Prime Minister fails, pro-remain parties will try to stop Brexit altogether. The Labour Party wants to renegotiate Johnson's Brexit deal and put it to another referendum. The Liberal Democrats under the leadership of Jo Swinson have pledged to cancel Brexit if they are voted to power at the general elections. The Scottish National Party, Welsh Party plaid CYMRU and the Greens are all in favour of a second referendum. Britain is to start voting between 7:00 am and 10:00 pm on December 12. The results are to declared through the night and the following day. Once the final result is announced, the leader of the winning party visits Buckingham Palace to ask the Queen for permission to form a new government after which they might stand outside to deliver a speech about their party's plans for the coming term.

With Brexit and economy at stake, Britain braces for third election in four years

Is Boris Johnson the right choice for the U.K.?

Gravitas: Boris Johnson: A Genius or A Joker?

English as a language has been part of many debates in the post-colonial era.

Even though English is often derided as a colonial legacy, it continues to be the language of choice for many Indians.

Many British political leaders from across the pond are pandering to the Indian diaspora during campaigns. For instance, the British election campaigns boasts of songs in Hindi, by echoing the word ''Boris ko jitaana hai'' (We must make Boris win).

This has increasingly become a pattern whereby the Indian diaspora is reshaping political fortunes and emerging as the most sought after group.

The ''Conservative Friends of India'' in London released a Conservative Indian Campaign video to promote British PM Boris Johnson.&nbsp;

The video was released after Boris Johnson and his girlfriend's visit to the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in London, popularly known as Neasden Temple, where he made a keynote address to the British Indian community, just days ahead of the United Kingdom general election.

The duo was flanked by the Home Secretary, Priti Patel, a prominent British Indian politician.

At the temple, Johnson performed a puja and hailed the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his promise of ''New India''.

Johnson asserted that there was no place for anti-Indian sentiment in the United Kingdom.

If Johnson's strategy involves a temple run, his rival Jeremy Corbyn used Diwali celebrations.

Appeasing the Indian diaspora, the largest in the world, and appealing to Indian sentiments is now a global pattern.

The highest recipient of remittances, the Indian diaspora has political heft in several countries.

Even in the recent Canada elections, all the parties targetted the Indian diaspora.

In the United States, the competition for the 'Indian' advantage is a visible feature.

The Indian government too has actively engaged to leverage the diaspora.

On the one hand, countries are now realising the importance of Indians as political fortunes of parties are swayed by this influential vote bank.

It also gives a hedge to the Indian government, for the role of India in global politics and economics will rise further in this century. 
&nbsp;

English as a language has been part of many debates in the post-colonial era. Even though English is often derided as a colonial legacy, it continues to be the language of choice for many Indians.

English as a language has been part of many debates in the post-colonial era. Even though English is often derided as a colonial legacy, it continues to be the language of choice for many Indians. Many British political leaders from across the pond are pandering to the Indian diaspora during campaigns. For instance, the British election campaigns boasts of songs in Hindi, by echoing the word ''Boris ko jitaana hai'' (We must make Boris win). This has increasingly become a pattern whereby the Indian diaspora is reshaping political fortunes and emerging as the most sought after group. The ''Conservative Friends of India'' in London released a Conservative Indian Campaign video to promote British PM Boris Johnson. The video was released after Boris Johnson and his girlfriend's visit to the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in London, popularly known as Neasden Temple, where he made a keynote address to the British Indian community, just days ahead of the United Kingdom general election. The duo was flanked by the Home Secretary, Priti Patel, a prominent British Indian politician. At the temple, Johnson performed a puja and hailed the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his promise of ''New India''. Johnson asserted that there was no place for anti-Indian sentiment in the United Kingdom. If Johnson's strategy involves a temple run, his rival Jeremy Corbyn used Diwali celebrations. Appeasing the Indian diaspora, the largest in the world, and appealing to Indian sentiments is now a global pattern. The highest recipient of remittances, the Indian diaspora has political heft in several countries. Even in the recent Canada elections, all the parties targetted the Indian diaspora. In the United States, the competition for the 'Indian' advantage is a visible feature. The Indian government too has actively engaged to leverage the diaspora. On the one hand, countries are now realising the importance of Indians as political fortunes of parties are swayed by this influential vote bank. It also gives a hedge to the Indian government, for the role of India in global politics and economics will rise further in this century.

Boris Johnson visits Hindu temple in bid to pander to British-Indian community

WION Correspondent, Olly Barratt speaks on UK Elections 2019.

UK Elections 2019: Olly Barratt assessment on major issues for UK Elections

The UK election comes against the background of one of the worst periods in Russian-British relations since the end of the Cold War. Badly shaken by the 2006 poisoning of the former Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko in London, relations spiralled further down in the aftermath of Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014. The poisoning of another former spy, Sergei Skripal, in March 2018 in Salisbury then killed off any hopes of a recovery in bilateral relations.

Throw in the British government’s failure to publish an intelligence report by MPs on Russia’s alleged involvement in British politics before the election, and the poll is shaping up to be a pivotal moment for Russia’s relations with the UK.

But what result does Russia want from the 2019 elections, and why?

I have researched Russia and its relations with the wider world, and the Russian government sees the UK as one of the more hawkish of EU states on Russia. The UK has been a strong supporter of tough sanctions on Russia for its behaviour in Ukraine, and it opposed Moscow’s involvement in Syria.

In 2018, the UK led the largest ever expulsion of Russian diplomats by Western countries, much to the ire of the Kremlin. Moscow’s foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, even complained in 2018 that: “The country, which is leaving the European Union, is determining the EU policy on Russia.”

The UK is often allied with the so-called “anti-Russian fringe” of former Soviet bloc states. Chief among these are Poland and the three Baltic states, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, which are seen in Moscow, in Lavrov’s words, as the: “Main activists in NATO and the European Union, which are going all out to impose unbridled Russophobia.”

This Russian suspicion of Britain is reinforced by its “special relationship” with the US, with the British hardline stance towards Russia often perceived by Moscow as a proxy for American views in the EU.

Add to this London’s status as a safe haven for Putin’s critics fleeing Russia, who are in their turn targeted by the Russian security forces, to see why UK-Russian relations are in a “deep freeze”.

It’s all about EU 
 
Although Russian diplomats and officials are always careful to stress that Brexit is an internal matter for the UK, the logic of international relations as seen from Moscow shows that a loss of British influence over the EU will be beneficial to Russia. In that sense, a victory for the Conservative party, which is committed to removing Britain from the EU, should be welcomed by Russia.

Removing Britain from the EU kills two birds with one stone for Russia. It diminishes the UK’s influence in Russia’s largest neighbour and trading partner, and through it reduces US influence. Without Britain, the EU will be less powerful, too. Pitching the EU and the US against each in their approaches to Russia, especially over economic sanctions, has long been a target of Russian foreign policy.

Russia might even use its membership of the World Trade Organization as leverage over the UK, particularly if British negotiators fail to reach a deal on their future relationship with the EU by the end of the agreed transition period. The Russians have good, detailed knowledge of difficulties involved in Brexit, including how many British cows cross the Irish border for milking every day.

Russia’s dislike of the EU has two strands. One is a practical realpolitik calculation. Russia has always been more comfortable dealing with individual states, than with an organisation like the EU. The other level is ideological. Russia has long been a champion of nationalist right-wing political forces across Europe, from Marie Le Pen’s National Rally in France to Matteo Salvini’s The League in Italy. In the UK, key pro-Brexit donor Aaron Banks maintained close contact with the Russian ambassador in the UK around the time of the 2016 EU referendum.

Conservatives v Labour

The Conservatives could have plausibly campaigned to be tougher on Russia – something hinted at in their manifesto.

Yet there is substantial evidence of Conservative exposure to Russian money and connections going back years. The Conservative party has been the largest recipient of money from Russian donors, more than £3.5 million since 2010, according to an investigation by Open Democracy. Despite bad publicity, the Conservatives refused to return Russian-linked money even in the aftermath of the Skripal poisoning in March 2018.

Were it not for Brexit, Russia might favour a Labour party in Corbyn’s mould given his sceptical views on Nato, nuclear deterrent, or the UK relations with the US. Some of his past comments, for example, on the causes of the Ukraine crisis, or the disastrous consequences of Western interventions in Iraq, Libya or Afghanistan, chime with Russia’s foreign policy attitudes.

Still, it remains an open question how much Corbyn could change the fundamentals of British foreign policy. Labour’s 2019 manifesto confirms, for example, its commitment to Nato defence spending at 2% of GDP and the renewal of the Trident nuclear deterrent.

Yet on the fundamental issue of Brexit, it’s the Conservatives who are more in tune with Russia’s long-term foreign policy objectives than Labour, which is campaigning for a second referendum. Fundamentally, “getting Brexit done” is something that Russian foreign policy would stand most to gain from.

(Alexander Titov is Lecturer in Modern European History, Queen's University Belfast)

(This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/what-would-russia-prefer-to-happen-in-the-uk-election-127074">original article</a>)

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)&nbsp;

The UK election comes against the background of one of the worst periods in Russian-British relations since the end of the Cold War. Badly shaken by the 2006 poisoning of the former Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko in London, relations spiralled further down in the aftermath of Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014.

The UK election comes against the background of one of the worst periods in Russian-British relations since the end of the Cold War. Badly shaken by the 2006 poisoning of the former Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko in London, relations spiralled further down in the aftermath of Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014. The poisoning of another former spy, Sergei Skripal, in March 2018 in Salisbury then killed off any hopes of a recovery in bilateral relations. Throw in the British government’s failure to publish an intelligence report by MPs on Russia’s alleged involvement in British politics before the election, and the poll is shaping up to be a pivotal moment for Russia’s relations with the UK. But what result does Russia want from the 2019 elections, and why? I have researched Russia and its relations with the wider world, and the Russian government sees the UK as one of the more hawkish of EU states on Russia. The UK has been a strong supporter of tough sanctions on Russia for its behaviour in Ukraine, and it opposed Moscow’s involvement in Syria. In 2018, the UK led the largest ever expulsion of Russian diplomats by Western countries, much to the ire of the Kremlin. Moscow’s foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, even complained in 2018 that: “The country, which is leaving the European Union, is determining the EU policy on Russia.” The UK is often allied with the so-called “anti-Russian fringe” of former Soviet bloc states. Chief among these are Poland and the three Baltic states, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, which are seen in Moscow, in Lavrov’s words, as the: “Main activists in NATO and the European Union, which are going all out to impose unbridled Russophobia.” This Russian suspicion of Britain is reinforced by its “special relationship” with the US, with the British hardline stance towards Russia often perceived by Moscow as a proxy for American views in the EU. Add to this London’s status as a safe haven for Putin’s critics fleeing Russia, who are in their turn targeted by the Russian security forces, to see why UK-Russian relations are in a “deep freeze”. It’s all about EU Although Russian diplomats and officials are always careful to stress that Brexit is an internal matter for the UK, the logic of international relations as seen from Moscow shows that a loss of British influence over the EU will be beneficial to Russia. In that sense, a victory for the Conservative party, which is committed to removing Britain from the EU, should be welcomed by Russia. Removing Britain from the EU kills two birds with one stone for Russia. It diminishes the UK’s influence in Russia’s largest neighbour and trading partner, and through it reduces US influence. Without Britain, the EU will be less powerful, too. Pitching the EU and the US against each in their approaches to Russia, especially over economic sanctions, has long been a target of Russian foreign policy. Russia might even use its membership of the World Trade Organization as leverage over the UK, particularly if British negotiators fail to reach a deal on their future relationship with the EU by the end of the agreed transition period. The Russians have good, detailed knowledge of difficulties involved in Brexit, including how many British cows cross the Irish border for milking every day. Russia’s dislike of the EU has two strands. One is a practical realpolitik calculation. Russia has always been more comfortable dealing with individual states, than with an organisation like the EU. The other level is ideological. Russia has long been a champion of nationalist right-wing political forces across Europe, from Marie Le Pen’s National Rally in France to Matteo Salvini’s The League in Italy. In the UK, key pro-Brexit donor Aaron Banks maintained close contact with the Russian ambassador in the UK around the time of the 2016 EU referendum. Conservatives v Labour The Conservatives could have plausibly campaigned to be tougher on Russia – something hinted at in their manifesto. Yet there is substantial evidence of Conservative exposure to Russian money and connections going back years. The Conservative party has been the largest recipient of money from Russian donors, more than £3.5 million since 2010, according to an investigation by Open Democracy. Despite bad publicity, the Conservatives refused to return Russian-linked money even in the aftermath of the Skripal poisoning in March 2018. Were it not for Brexit, Russia might favour a Labour party in Corbyn’s mould given his sceptical views on Nato, nuclear deterrent, or the UK relations with the US. Some of his past comments, for example, on the causes of the Ukraine crisis, or the disastrous consequences of Western interventions in Iraq, Libya or Afghanistan, chime with Russia’s foreign policy attitudes. Still, it remains an open question how much Corbyn could change the fundamentals of British foreign policy. Labour’s 2019 manifesto confirms, for example, its commitment to Nato defence spending at 2% of GDP and the renewal of the Trident nuclear deterrent. Yet on the fundamental issue of Brexit, it’s the Conservatives who are more in tune with Russia’s long-term foreign policy objectives than Labour, which is campaigning for a second referendum. Fundamentally, “getting Brexit done” is something that Russian foreign policy would stand most to gain from. (Alexander Titov is Lecturer in Modern European History, Queen's University Belfast) (This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article) (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

What would Russia prefer to happen in the UK election?

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