Live Updates: UK’s Johnson Begins Forming New Government

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson told Scottish leader Nicola Sturgeon on Friday there would be no new independence referendum, adding that the previous vote which took place in 2014 must be respected.

"The Prime Minister made clear how he remained opposed to a second independence referendum, standing with the majority of people in Scotland who do not want to return to division and uncertainty," his office said in a statement. "He added how the result of the 2014 referendum was decisive and should be respected."

Sturgeon, for her part, said that she made its clear to Johnson that a mandate to give people a choice must be respected.

EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell said on Friday that UK elections results implied that a Brexit agreement will be ratified shortly.

"Outcome of UK elections allows us to expect a swift UK ratification of Withdrawal Agreement. EU stands ready to start negotiations on our future relationship. The future EU-UK partnership must contain also a strategic dimension, covering foreign & security policy #EUCO," he tweeted.

The UK is likely to leave the European bloc with a deal, now that Prime Minister Boris Johnson's Conservative Party won a comfortable majority in Thursday’s general election.

With a majority in the House of Commons secured, Johnson will look to get his Brexit withdrawal agreement through parliament by Christmas.

After the Conservative Party secured one of its most dramatic victories in decades in the United Kingdom's Thursday general election, the perfect time for clarity on Brexit has come, French President Emmanuel Macron said on Friday.

"I want to congratulate [Conservative Party Leader and UK Prime Minister] Boris Johnson on his clear election victory. So the time for clarity [on Brexit] has come. And I would like for the withdrawal agreement, which was agreed jointly in October, to be ratified as soon as possible, so that the withdrawal takes place on January 31. This is a permanent position of France, so I welcome this moment of clarity," Macron said at a press conference following the European Council summit.

The UK Conservative Party has secured the most convincing victory in the general election since 1987, gaining 365 seats in the House of Commons, with votes in all the 650 constituencies counted.

Meanwhile, the Labour Party secured 203 seats, and the Scottish National Party (SNP) strengthened its position, gaining 48 seats. Liberal Democrats won 11 seats.

The voter turnout exceeded 67 percent.

Career diplomat Michelle Bernier-Toth has been selected as special adviser for children’s issues, a post that handles cases of US citizen children who are kidnapped by a disgruntled parent and taken overseas, the Department of State said in a press release on Friday.

"Working alongside the Office of Children’s Issues in the Bureau of Consular Affairs, the special adviser advocates for US children who are victims of international parental child abduction, and for their left-behind parents," the release said.

European Commission wants zero tariffs, quotas in trade with the UK after Brexit, Von Der Leyen said.

Prime Minister @BorisJohnson returns to 10 Downing Street and is welcomed by staff following an audience with Her Majesty the Queen. pic.twitter.com/oSycEGDqtP

— UK Prime Minister (@10DowningStreet) December 13, 2019

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson pledged on Friday to get Brexit done by 31 January, as his Conservative Party appears to win the general election.

"We will get Brexit done on time, by 31 January, no ifs, not buts, no maybes, leaving the European Union as one United Kingdom. Taking back control of our law ... money, our trade, immigration system. Delivering all the democratic mandate of the people," Johnson said in his election victory speech.

Many congratulations to PM @BorisJohnson for his return with a thumping majority. I wish him the best and look forward to working together for closer India-UK ties. pic.twitter.com/D95Z7XXRml

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 13, 2019

Congratulations to Boris Johnson on his great WIN! Britain and the United States will now be free to strike a massive new Trade Deal after BREXIT. This deal has the potential to be far bigger and more lucrative than any deal that could be made with the E.U. Celebrate Boris!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 13, 2019

The UK Conservative Party will secure a 78-82 vote lead in the country's House of Commons as a result of the general election, a renewed forecast of the Sky News broadcaster revealed on Friday.

If the forecast is proven true, this will be the best result shown by any UK party since 2002.

As of now, votes have been counted in 634 constituencies out of 650. The Conservative Party has already secured 354 seats, while the Labour Party has gained 202 seats, and the Scottish National Party has gained 46 seats.

Congratulations Prime Minister Boris Johnson!

— Ivanka Trump (@IvankaTrump) December 13, 2019

The UK Tories have secured an absolute majority of seats in the country's 650-member parliament, paving the way for smooth Brexit, and the vote count continues.

As of 05:05 GMT, the Conservative Party gained 327 seats, while the Labour Party got 195 seats.

According to the exit poll, the Conservative Party should gain a total of 368 seats, while the Labour Party is expected to secure 191 seats, and the Scottish National Party is expected to come third with 55 mandates.

Meanwhile, the Sky News' forecast suggests that the Conservative Party will gain from 358 to 368 seats in the national legislature, which amounts to 55-57 percent, while the Labour Party will gain from 192 to 202 seats.

"There is a mandate now to offer the people of Scotland the choice over our own future," Sturgeon said.

"Boris Johnson may have a mandate to take England out of the European Union. He emphatically does not have a mandate to take Scotland out of the European Union. Scotland must have a choice over our own future," Nicola Sturgeon stressed.

UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, Prime Minister Boris Johnson, head of the Labour Party Jeremy Corbyn, former Prime Minister Theresa May retained their seats in the House of Commons, while head of the Liberal Democrats Jo Swinson failed to do that, the results of the voting showed on Friday.

Raab will further represent the Esher and Walton constituency, Johnson Uxbridge and South Ruislip, Corbyn Islington North, while May Maidenhead. Swinson failed to be re-elected in the East Dunbartonshire constituency, being defeated by a representative of the Scottish National Party.

Looking like a big win for Boris in the U.K.!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 13, 2019

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Friday that his Conservative Party had got a "powerful mandate" to get Brexit done and unite the nation as well as vowed to focus on the National Health Service (NHS).

"This one nation Conservative government has been given a powerful new mandate to get Brexit done and not just to get Brexit done but to unite this country and to take it forward, and to focus on the priorities of the British people, above all on the NHS. And yes, we will recruit 50,000 more nurses and 6,000 more GPs [general practitioners], and we will build 40 new hospitals," Johnson said at his acceptance speech.

UK Conservative Party to Get from 358 to 368 Out of 650 Seats in House of Commons after the general election, Sky News forecast says.

The Labour Party can count on 192-202 seats, according to the forecast.

UK Labour party's head Jeremy Corbyn said after winning his north London electoral seat that he will not lead the party in 'any future general election campaign'. "This is obviously a very disappointing night for the Labour Party with the result that we've got," Corbyn said.