Boris smashes the political establishment ...
In the Terrapin sweepstake I predicted that the Tories would gain a majority of seventy and win three hundred and sixty seats. I want to thank Doris Stokes for her guidance, wisdom and insight!
From the moment the Tories won Blyth Valley it was clear that this was going to be a pretty spectacular evening. Tony Blair’s old seat of Sedgefield was perhaps the most symbolic gain on an evening when traditional Labour strongholds were swept away by the political tsunami that is Boris Johnson.
Two party leaders were destroyed. Jeremy Corbyn conceded that his leadership of the Labour Party was over at his count. Jo Swinson couldn’t even hold her own seat.
The political ramifications of the Tory win are massive. The new government will speak with a number of regional accents. Government policy will need to focus as much on Wales, the Midlands and the North as on the South-East.
A modest reshuffle will take place over the weekend. MPs will be sworn in on Monday. The Queen’s Speech will take place on Thursday and on Friday the House of Commons will vote for the Withdrawal Agreement Bill.
On their return in January, MPs will be tasked with ensuring that the first stage of Brexit is delivered by 31st January 2020.
The other political winner was Nicola Sturgeon and the SNP who had a very good evening. There is going to be a massive fight over the future of the Union. The trial of the former First Minister Alex Salmond will add additional spice.
So a pretty amazing election result. All the old certainties have been swept away by Boris who has persuaded traditional Labour voters to back him. To retain their support Boris will need to revert to being a populist one nation Tory. His language has already started to change. It is going to be a fascinating five years.