Protesters clash with police in London after Boris Johnson's general election victory

13 December 2019, 20:15

Anti-Tory protesters have descended on Downing Street in the wake of Boris Johnson's election victory, chanting 'not my prime minister'.

There was a heavy police presence as crowds waved a mixture of pro-EU and anti-Boris Johnson banners, many of which read "Defy Tory rule".

Whitehall was earlier closed to traffic as hundreds of protesters marched through the streets around Parliament, voicing their anger with the general election result.

The Conservatives won a majority of 365 seats in the general election, where only 326 seats were needed for a majority.

Labour gained 202 seats and the Lib Dems won just 11.

Boris Johnson has tweeted his thanks to Conservative voters for their "trust in us, and in me".

Speaking outside Downing Street earlier, the prime minister said he had an "overwhelming mandate" to take Britain out of the EU by the end of January.

He said the Conservatives will "work round the clock" to deliver their election promises.

The scenes in central London were in stark contrast to the pledge Mr Johnson made after a visit to the Queen yesterday.

He promised to "heal the divisions of Brexit" and sought to reach out to Remainers, insisting his "One Nation" government would never ignore their feelings of "warmth and sympathy" towards the other nations of Europe.

He said: "Now is the moment, precisely as we leave the EU, to let those natural feelings find renewed expression in building a new partnership, which is one of the great projects for next year.

“As we work together with the EU as friends and sovereign equals in tackling climate change and terrorism, in building academic and scientific cooperation, redoubling our trading relationship, I frankly urge everyone to find closure and to let the healing begin.”

The Prime Minister said the NHS would be one of his central priorities as he starts a five-year term in office.

Mr Johnson added: "I believe - in fact, I know because I heard it loud and clear from every corner of the country - that the overwhelming priority of the British people now is that we should focus, above all, on the NHS - that beautiful idea that represents the best of our country."

He said he would deliver the disputed pledges of the "biggest ever cash boost", along with 50,000 more nurses and 40 new hospitals.

In Scotland similar anti-Tory protests are being held in Buchanan Street in Glasgow, as people take to the streets with Anti-Tory banners this evening.

Nicola Sturgeon has called for a fresh Scottish independence referendum after the SNP's success in the general election.

The party achieved 45 per cent of the total vote in Scotland, meaning they achieved a total of 48 MPs in the House of Commons.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has decided to stand down in the next few months, opting not to lead the party into another election.

Other key moments from the night included the swing from Labour to the Tories in the bellwether constituency of Workington and Lib Dem leader Jo Swinson narrowly losing her seat to the SNP.

The Tories took a succession of key Labour strongholds in the early results, winning seats in Blyth Valley, Wrexham, Burnley, Darlington, Workington - all traditional Labour heartland seats before 3am.