December 13.The Conservatives have taken a string of former Labour strongholds, as an exit poll suggests they are set to win the general election. Labour have lost seats in the north of England and Wales in areas that voted Leave in the 2016 EU referendum.

The results point to the BBC/ITV/Sky exit poll suggesting a Tory majority of 86 as being broadly accurate, although most seats have yet to declare. Labour is on course to lose 71 seats, the exit poll suggests.

Labour’s vote is predicted to be about 8% down on the 2017 general election, with the Conservatives up slightly and the smaller parties having a better night.

The exit poll taken at 144 polling stations, with 22,790 interviews. suggests the Tories will get 368 MPs – 50 more than at the 2017 election – when all the results have been counted.Labour would get 191, the SNP 55, the Lib Dems 13, Plaid Cymru three, the Greens one, the Brexit Party none and the SNP 55.

It would be the biggest Conservative victory since 1987 and Labour’s worst result since 1935, the poll suggests.The pound surged against the dollar after the exit poll figures were announced as polls closed at 22:00 GMT, with sterling gaining 3% to $1.35 – its highest level since May last year.Home Secretary Priti Patel said the government will move quickly to “get Brexit done” before Christmas by introducing legislation in Parliament, if it is returned to power.