Theresa May will visit Buckingham Palace to seek permission to form a UK government

Theresa May will visit Buckingham Palace at 12:30 BST to seek permission to form a UK government, despite losing her Commons majority.

The prime minister is attempting to stay in office on the understanding that the Democratic Unionist Party will support her minority administration.

With one seat left to declare, the Tories are eight seats short of the 326 figure needed to command a majority.

Jeremy Corbyn has urged her to quit, saying Labour is "ready to serve".

After a disappointing night for the Conservatives, Theresa May faces ending up with 12 fewer seats than when she called the election and will need the support of other parties to govern.
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The Tories are forecast to end up with 319 seats ahead of Labour on 261, the SNP 35 and the Lib Dems on 12.

Mrs May has signalled her intention to carry on in Downing Street, saying the country needs "stability" with the start of Brexit negotiations 10 days away.

It is thought Mrs May will seek some kind of informal arrangement with the DUP that could see it "lend" its support the Tories on a vote-by-vote basis, known as "confidence and supply".

Combined, the Tories and the DUP - which won 10 seats - would have 329 MPs in the Commons.

The DUP is currently meeting to discuss what it has said is a "messy" situation but sources have said talk of an agreement is "premature".

Labour has said it is also ready to form a minority government of its own. But even if it joined together in a so-called progressive alliance with the SNP, Lib Dems, Green Party and Plaid Cymru, it would only reach 313 seats - short of the 326 figure.