Exit polls in the British general election suggest a big swing to the Conservative party, with the likelihood that it can form a government with a clear majority.
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They suggest an extra 50 seats for the Conservatives and 71 fewer seats for the Labour Party.
Exit polls are normally accurate but, of course, much will depend on individual seats. But there is no doubt that this exit poll will feed deep gloom in Labour circles and tentative jubilation among Conservatives.
A clear Conservative majority in the British lower house - the House of Commons - means Britain's exit from the European Union - Brexit - is all-but certain to happen.
The election was only been partly about Brexit. The Conservatives campaigned on the slogan "Get Brexit Done" while Labour's pitch was that it would end "austerity" and negotiate a new Brexit deal and put it to the people in a second referendum.
READ MORE: How Britain's election works
The British Parliament has been paralysed since the former Prime Minister, Theresa May, called a snap election in 2017 and lost her working majority.
She took the divorce deal she had negotiated with Brussels to the House of Commons three times and lost. Faced with continuing defeat, she resigned to be replaced by Boris Johnson.
Under the fixed term rule, the next election was not due to take place until 2022 but the new charismatic if widely distrusted prime minister decided that this election was the only way to break the impasse.
Opposition lawmakers backed his call after weeks of debate and set December 12 as the date of Britain's first December election since 1923.
The polls closed at 9am eastern Australian time.
Mr Johnson's challenger to be prime minister was Jeremy Corbyn, a serial rebel in the Labour party until he was catapulted to the leadership under new rules.
He describes himself as a "socialist" and is widely seen as the most left-wing Labour leader in a century. He has been ambiguous on Brexit, saying that he would negotiate a new deal with Brussels but wouldn't campaign one way or the other in the referendum.
This election has not been fought on the traditional right-left lines. Some people in poor, de-industrialised Labour areas tend towards Brexit, partly out of discontent over immigration.
Voting is not compulsory in Britain and much may have turned on whether people stayed home because of torrential rain.
Steve Evans
Steve Evans is a reporter on The Canberra Times. He's been a BBC correspondent in New York, London, Berlin and Seoul and the sole reporter/photographer/paper deliverer on The Glen Innes Examiner in country New South Wales. "All the jobs have been fascinating - and so it continues."
Steve Evans is a reporter on The Canberra Times. He's been a BBC correspondent in New York, London, Berlin and Seoul and the sole reporter/photographer/paper deliverer on The Glen Innes Examiner in country New South Wales. "All the jobs have been fascinating - and so it continues."
