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.
General election: live updates
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.
Friday, June 9, 2017
Theresa May's future in doubt as election gamble backfires
Theresa May is this morning facing calls to resign as Prime Minister after her snap election gamble spectacularly backfired.
Hopes of a Conservative landslide were replaced by the reality of a hung parliament in the early hours of Friday morning as voters rejected her appeal for a personal mandate to negotiate Brexit.
Sky News' projection is for the Conservatives to remain the largest party on 315 to 321 seats - with 326 required for a majority.
Labour are projected to win between 260 and 266 seats - more than under both Ed Miliband and Gordon Brown.
:: Live updates on election night
Hopes of a Conservative landslide were replaced by the reality of a hung parliament in the early hours of Friday morning as voters rejected her appeal for a personal mandate to negotiate Brexit.
Sky News' projection is for the Conservatives to remain the largest party on 315 to 321 seats - with 326 required for a majority.
Labour are projected to win between 260 and 266 seats - more than under both Ed Miliband and Gordon Brown.
:: Live updates on election night
General Election Results
Vote share
Results by constituency
Knifeman 'takes hostages at job centre in Newcastle'
A man armed with a knife is believed to be holding several members of staff hostage at a job centre plus in Newcastle, police say.
Negotiators are at the scene and the roads around the building have been closed as a precaution.
Officers said they were called at about 8am following reports of a man causing a disturbance at a job centre in Byker.
Police said a knifeman had entered the building and several members of staff are thought to be held there, while several other workers have left.
There are no reports of any injuries at the moment.
The man is believed to be known to the job centre.
Negotiators are at the scene and the roads around the building have been closed as a precaution.
Officers said they were called at about 8am following reports of a man causing a disturbance at a job centre in Byker.
Police said a knifeman had entered the building and several members of staff are thought to be held there, while several other workers have left.
There are no reports of any injuries at the moment.
The man is believed to be known to the job centre.
Thursday, June 8, 2017
Trump-Russia probe: Comey testimony raises suspicions
James Comey testifies on Russia's alleged interference in the 2016 US presidential election [Jonathan Ernst/Reuters]Former FBI Director James Comey has accused President Donald Trump of firing him to undermine his investigation into Russia’s role in the 2016 election and its ties to the Trump campaign.
"It's my judgment that I was fired because of the Russia investigation," Comey told the Senate Intelligence Committee on Thursday.
Testifying under oath in a hearing watched worldwide, the former FBI boss said he believed he was dismissed "to change, or the endeavor was to change, the way the Russia investigation was being conducted."
Trump-Russia probe: Comey testimony raises suspicions
Comey also accused the Trump administration of spreading "lies, plain and simple" about him and the FBI in the aftermath of his abrupt sacking, by claiming the bureau was in disorder under his leadership.
"Those were lies, plain and simple," he said.
But in more than two hours of testimony, Comey would not say whether he thought the president sought to obstruct justice.
Marc Kasowitz, Trump's personal attorney, said Comey's testimony "finally confirmed publicly" that president was not under investigation.
He also denied Trump had asked Comey for loyalty or to drop a FBI probe into former national security advisor Michael Flynn's links with Russia.
'Stunned'
In his testimony, Comey said he was "confused and increasingly concerned" by Trump's shifting explanations for his dismissal, saying Trump had repeatedly told him he was doing a "great job".
Comey said it was not for him to decide whether the president's actions amounted to obstruction of justice, a serious crime that could lead to impeachment. However, he called the president's pressures "a very disturbing thing, very concerning".
READ MORE: Why was James Comey so controversial?
It was a Democrat, Senator Dianne Feinstein of California, who asked the question that many Republicans have raised in the weeks since Comey's firing, as one media leak followed another revealing Comey's claims about Trump's inappropriate interactions with him.
Alluding to the Oval Office meeting where Comey says Trump asked him to pull back the Flynn probe, Feinstein asked: "Why didn't you stop and say, 'Mr. President, this is wrong'?"
Comey responded: "That's a great question...Maybe if I were stronger I would have. I was so stunned by the conversation I just took it in."
He also described his concerns that Trump was trying to create a "patronage" relationship with him at a dinner during which Trump asked if he wanted to keep his job.
Trump-Russia probe: Comey testimony raises suspicions
In a startling disclosure, Comey also revealed that he gave one of his memos about Trump to a friend of his to leak to the press in the hopes that it might prompt the appointment of a special counsel.
"My judgment was I need to get that out into the public square," Comey said.
He told senators he had decided he must document every meeting he had with Trump, with a written record because he was "honestly concerned that he [Trump] might lie about the nature of our meeting".
"I knew there might come a day when I might need a record of what happened not only to defend myself but to protect the FBI."
Kasowitz, Trump's lawyer, seized on the admission, accusing Comey of "unauthorized disclosures" of "privileged communications" with the president.
Sarah Huckabee Sanders, a White House spokeswoman, also hit back, telling reporters: "I can definitely say the president’s not a liar".
READ MORE: Comey's sacking will not be the end of President Trump
In his testimony, Comey said he leaked memos of his conversations after a tweet by the president suggested he may have taped the conversations.
Comey said did not know if there were tapes of his conversations with Trump but said they should be made public if they existed.
"Lordy, I hope there are tapes," Comey said.
The hearing was watched all over the world [Justin Sullivan/AFP]
The former FBI director also stressed the intelligence community's conclusion that Russia did indeed meddle in the 2016 election.
"There should be no fuzz on this. The Russians interfered," Comey said firmly. "That happened. It's about as unfake as you can possibly get."
Russia has denied such interference and the White House as denied any collusion.
Trump stayed off social media while the drama played out in Congress, but his son Donald Trump Jr. fired off a series of tweets attacking Comey.
Comey says Lynch tarmac meeting, directive to downplay probe prompted him to go rogue on Clinton case
Former FBI Director James Comey revealed in Senate testimony Thursday that then-Attorney General Loretta Lynch directed him to describe the Hillary Clinton email probe as a "matter" and not an "investigation."
He also said that the directive, combined with Lynch's unusual Arizona tarmac meeting with former President Bill Clinton, led him to make his independent announcement regarding the Clinton email probe last July.
In his closely watched Senate Intelligence Committee testimony otherwise devoted to discussing the circumstances of his firing, Comey said that tarmac meeting was a "deciding factor" in his decision to act alone to update the public on the Clinton probe -- and protect the bureau's reputation.
"There were other things, significant items," he added, citing how "the Attorney General directed me not to call it an investigation and call it a matter—which confused me."
“That was one of the bricks in the load that I needed to step away from the department,” Comey said, later adding he was concerned Lynch was trying to align the DOJ’s comments with the way the campaign was talking about the probe. “That gave me a queasy feeling,” he said.
Lynch and former President Bill Clinton met on a tarmac in Phoenix, Ariz. on June 27, 2016, which immediately raised questions about whether she—or the Justice Department—could be impartial in the Hillary Clinton email investigation. Days later, Comey called Hillary Clinton’s actions “extremely careless” but declined to recommend charges.
Comey’s statements on Thursday could potentially damage Lynch’s reputation as an impartial, leading top law enforcement officer.
“Yes, that was the thing that capped it for me,” Comey said. “I needed to protect the investigation and the FBI.”
Comey added: “There were other things that contributed to that one thing ... but the committee has been briefed on classified facts.”
But Comey told lawmakers he wouldn’t have done things differently with regard to his decision on the Clinton email case.
“You have been criticized on your Clinton email decision. Did you learn anything that would have changed how you chose to inform the American people?” Chairman of Senate Intelligence Committee Richard Burr, R-N.C., asked the fired FBI director.
“Honestly, no,” Comey answered. “It caused a lot of personal pain for me – I think it was the best way to protect the justice institution—including the FBI.”
He also said that the directive, combined with Lynch's unusual Arizona tarmac meeting with former President Bill Clinton, led him to make his independent announcement regarding the Clinton email probe last July.
In his closely watched Senate Intelligence Committee testimony otherwise devoted to discussing the circumstances of his firing, Comey said that tarmac meeting was a "deciding factor" in his decision to act alone to update the public on the Clinton probe -- and protect the bureau's reputation.
"There were other things, significant items," he added, citing how "the Attorney General directed me not to call it an investigation and call it a matter—which confused me."
“That was one of the bricks in the load that I needed to step away from the department,” Comey said, later adding he was concerned Lynch was trying to align the DOJ’s comments with the way the campaign was talking about the probe. “That gave me a queasy feeling,” he said.
Lynch and former President Bill Clinton met on a tarmac in Phoenix, Ariz. on June 27, 2016, which immediately raised questions about whether she—or the Justice Department—could be impartial in the Hillary Clinton email investigation. Days later, Comey called Hillary Clinton’s actions “extremely careless” but declined to recommend charges.
Comey’s statements on Thursday could potentially damage Lynch’s reputation as an impartial, leading top law enforcement officer.
“Yes, that was the thing that capped it for me,” Comey said. “I needed to protect the investigation and the FBI.”
Comey added: “There were other things that contributed to that one thing ... but the committee has been briefed on classified facts.”
But Comey told lawmakers he wouldn’t have done things differently with regard to his decision on the Clinton email case.
“You have been criticized on your Clinton email decision. Did you learn anything that would have changed how you chose to inform the American people?” Chairman of Senate Intelligence Committee Richard Burr, R-N.C., asked the fired FBI director.
“Honestly, no,” Comey answered. “It caused a lot of personal pain for me – I think it was the best way to protect the justice institution—including the FBI.”
Trey Gowdy picked to lead House Oversight Committee
The Republican Steering Committee has elected Rep. Trey Gowdy, R-S.C., to serve as the next chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee.
“I am grateful to the Steering Committee and the Conference as a whole for this opportunity to serve,” Gowdy said in a statement. “I look forward to working alongside the other Committee members, as well as any member of Congress, as we discharge the jurisdiction assigned to us.”
CHAFFETZ TO RESIGN FROM CONGRESS IN JUNE
Gowdy will replace outgoing Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah), who is resigning from Congress at the end of June.
"Trey Gowdy is the right person for the job," Chaffetz said in a statement. "He has a long history of demanding accountability, upholding transparency, and relentlessly pursuing the truth. Under his capable leadership, the Committee will continue to work towards ensuring effectiveness and efficiency throughout the federal government. As his friend and colleague, I have every confidence in his abilities moving forward."
TRUMP TO NOMINATE CHRISTOPHER WRAY TO BE FBI DIRECTOR
Gowdy is a former federal prosecutor who led a two-year inquiry into the deadly attacks in Benghazi, Libya, and was an outspoken critic of the Obama administration. As the new chairman, he will lead oversight of the Trump administration, including a nascent investigation of possible ties between Russia and President Donald Trump's campaign.
“I am grateful to the Steering Committee and the Conference as a whole for this opportunity to serve,” Gowdy said in a statement. “I look forward to working alongside the other Committee members, as well as any member of Congress, as we discharge the jurisdiction assigned to us.”
CHAFFETZ TO RESIGN FROM CONGRESS IN JUNE
Gowdy will replace outgoing Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah), who is resigning from Congress at the end of June.
"Trey Gowdy is the right person for the job," Chaffetz said in a statement. "He has a long history of demanding accountability, upholding transparency, and relentlessly pursuing the truth. Under his capable leadership, the Committee will continue to work towards ensuring effectiveness and efficiency throughout the federal government. As his friend and colleague, I have every confidence in his abilities moving forward."
TRUMP TO NOMINATE CHRISTOPHER WRAY TO BE FBI DIRECTOR
Gowdy is a former federal prosecutor who led a two-year inquiry into the deadly attacks in Benghazi, Libya, and was an outspoken critic of the Obama administration. As the new chairman, he will lead oversight of the Trump administration, including a nascent investigation of possible ties between Russia and President Donald Trump's campaign.
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