13 December 2019updated 08 Jun 2021 11:05am

Labour suffers a historic defeat, as Tories win first big majority in decades

Britain's Prime Minister and Conservative leader Boris Johnson leaves after retaining his seat to be MP for Uxbridge and Ruislip South at the count centre in Uxbridge, west London, on December 13, 2019 after votes were counted as part of the UK general election. - Prime Minister Boris Johnson's ruling party appeared on course for a sweeping victory in Thursday's snap election, an exit poll showed, paving the way for Britain to leave the EU next month after years of political deadlock. (Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP) (Photo by OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images)

The Conservatives have won a significant majority while Labour is on course to finish with fewer seats than it got even in 1983. While the exact size of the Conservative majority is unclear, it is a triumph where the margin of victory makes it a Herculean task to reverse it over a single parliament – and puts the Tory party in a strong position to hold power until the end of the decade.

The Labour Party lost a slew of seats including that of Laura Pidcock, tipped as a contender to replace Jeremy Corbyn, in a night of travail for the party. It was also a crushing disappointment for the Liberal Democrats, who gained seats in England but lost seats in Scotland and Wales, including that of Jo Swinson, their leader.