London • Spectacularly punished by voters who took away her majority in Parliament, a politically wounded but defiant Theresa May soldiered on Friday as Britain's prime minister, resisting pressure to resign after the failure of a high-stakes election gamble that made the massive challenge of untangling Britain from the European Union only more complex and uncertain.
Having called an early election in hopes of getting an increased majority that could have strengthened her hand in Britain's exit talks with the EU, May instead saw her majority evaporate completely — leaving her fortunes hanging by a thread and dark clouds over the Brexit negotiations just 10 days before they are due to start.
She insisted that she would stick to the Brexit timetable. But she was forced into an alliance with a small party in Northern Ireland just to stay in power. Grim-faced, May said her Conservatives and the Democratic Unionist Party would together form a new government "that can provide certainty and lead Britain forward at this critical time."
"This government will guide the country through the crucial Brexit talks ... and deliver on the will of the British people by taking the United Kingdom out of the European Union," she said after seeking Queen Elizabeth II's approval for the new, hastily cobbled-together arrangement.
May's snap election call was the second time that a Conservative gamble on the issue of Britain's relations with Europe backfired. Her predecessor, David Cameron, first asked British voters to decide in 2016 whether to leave the EU or stay in, triggering the divorce that will leave the bloc with 27 members when Britain leaves in 2019.
Cameron, gambling that Britons wouldn't want to sever their network of ties with the continent, had promised the Brexit referendum during a 2015 election campaign that gave Conservatives a surprise Parliamentary majority. When voters stunned him and Europe by voting to leave, he resigned, leaving May to deal with the mess.
Perplexed EU leaders, unexpectedly faced with the prospect of dealing with now-shaky British leadership, sought Friday to make sense of the drama, but also made clear that while Britain might be accorded time to regroup, it should not expect an extension of the two-year deadline for the Brexit talks to end.
Chief EU negotiator Michel Barnier tweeted that "negotiations should start when U.K. is ready." But EU Council President Donald Tusk said: "We know when they must end." Mostly, the EU mood was one of frustration that the already tough Brexit talks were likely to become only more difficult.
The election shock is "yet another own goal" that will make "already complex negotiations even more complicated," said the European Parliament's top Brexit official, Guy Verhofstadt.
With 649 of 650 seats in the House of Commons declared, May's bruised Conservatives had 318 — short of the 326 they needed for an outright majority and well down from the 330 seats they had before May's roll of the electoral dice.
Rather than resign, May quickly grabbed the lifeline of an alliance with the DUP, which won 10 seats. But even that arrangement seemed shaky. Before May went through the largely symbolic process of seeking the queen's approval for the new government, DUP leader Arlene Foster had told British media that it would be "difficult for [May] to survive" and that "it is too soon to talk about what we're going to do."
In May's camp, recriminations were immediate and stinging.
"This is a very bad moment for the Conservative Party, and we need to take stock," Conservative lawmaker Anna Soubry said. "Our leader needs to take stock as well."
The biggest winner was Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn. Labour's increase in seats from 229 to 261 — with one seat still undecided — confounded expectations that his left-wing views made him electorally toxic.
In a buoyant mood, Corbyn piled on pressure for May to resign, saying Friday morning that people have had enough of austerity politics and cuts in public spending. He ruled out the potential for deals or pacts with other progressive parties in Parliament.
"The arguments the Conservative Party put forward in this election have lost, and we need to change."
Initially blind-sided by May's snap election call, and written off by many pollsters, Labour surged in the final weeks of the campaign. It drew strong support from young people, who appeared to have turned out to vote in bigger-than-expected numbers.
The fast-moving events both flummoxed and fascinated voters.
"It's a bit of a mess," Peter Morgan, 35, said in London. "I was kind of hoping it would just go the way that the polls suggested it would and we could have a quiet life in Westminster but now it's going to be a bit of a mess."
Many predicted May would soon be gone. Steven Fielding, a professor of politics at the University of Nottingham, called her "a zombie prime minister."
"Clearly if she's got a worse result than two years ago and is almost unable to form a government, then she, I doubt, will survive in the long term as Conservative Party leader," former Conservative Treasury chief George Osborne said on ITV.
May wasn't the only big loser.
In a blow to its hopes for another referendum on whether Scotland should leave the United Kingdom, the pro-independence Scottish National Party lost about 21 of its 54 seats. Its casualties included Alex Salmond, one of the party's highest-profile lawmakers.
Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson said the idea of a new independence referendum "is dead."
European leaders grappled with the question: what next? French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe said the election shock didn't necessarily mean that Britons have changed their minds about leaving but also predicted that "the tone" of negotiations may be affected.
"These are discussions that will be long and that will be complex. So let's not kid ourselves," he said on Europe 1 radio.
EU budget commissioner Guenther Oettinger said the EU is prepared to stick to the timetable that calls for negotiations to start in mid-June, but also said: "Without a government, there's no negotiation."
May, who went into the election with a reputation for quiet competence, was criticized for a lackluster campaigning style and for a plan to force elderly people to pay more for their care, a proposal her opponents dubbed the "dementia tax." As the polls suggested a tightening race, pollsters spoke less often of a landslide and raised the possibility that May's majority would be eroded.
Then, attacks in Manchester and London that killed a total of 30 people brought the campaign to a halt — twice, sent a wave of anxiety through Britain and forced May to defend the government's record on fighting terrorism. Corbyn accused the Conservatives of undermining Britain's security by cutting the number of police on the streets.
Eight people were killed near London Bridge on Saturday when three men drove a van into pedestrians and then stabbed revelers in an area filled with bars and restaurants. Two weeks earlier, a suicide bomber killed 22 people as they were leaving an Ariana Grande concert in Manchester.
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Gregory Katz, Sophie Berman, Niko Price and John Leicester contributed to this story.
Ballot boxes arrive to be counted, at the Emirates Arena in Glasgow, Scotland, Thursday June 8, 2017. Britain voted Thursday in an election that started out as an attempt by Prime Minister Theresa May to increase her party's majority in Parliament ahead of Brexit negotiations but was upended by terror attacks in Manchester and London during the campaign's closing days. (Andrew Milligan/PA via AP)
Ballot boxes are emptied to be counted for the general election, at the Emirates Arena in Glasgow, Scotland, Thursday June 8, 2017. Britain voted Thursday in an election that started out as an attempt by Prime Minister Theresa May to increase her party's majority in Parliament ahead of Brexit negotiations but was upended by terror attacks in Manchester and London during the campaign's closing days. (Andrew Milligan/PA via AP)
Votes cast in the general election are counted in Islington in London, shortly after the polls closed Thursday, June 8, 2017. Exit polls projected that Theresa May's ruling Conservatives would be the largest party, but that they may fall short of a majority. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)
Police officers look on as votes cast in the general election are counted in Islington in London, shortly after the polls closed Thursday, June 8, 2017. Exit polls projected that Theresa May's ruling Conservatives would be the largest party, but that they may fall short of a majority. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)
Armed police officers stand outside Kendal Leisure Centre where general election ballot papers for the Westmorland and Lonsdale constituency in north England are being counted, Thursday June 8, 2017. (Danny Lawson /PA via AP)
Election staff count ballot papers for the general election inside Kendal Leisure Centre in the Westmorland and Lonsdale constituency in north England, Thursday June 8, 2017. Britain voted Thursday in an election that started out as an attempt by Prime Minister Theresa May to increase her party's majority in Parliament ahead of Brexit negotiations but was upended by terror attacks in Manchester and London during the campaign's closing days. (Danny Lawson /PA via AP)
The London Eye is illuminated in red, the color of the Labour Party, after first exit polls of Britain's national election announced in London, Thursday, June 8, 2017. Britain voted Thursday in an election that started out as an attempt by Prime Minister Theresa May to increase her party's majority in Parliament ahead of Brexit negotiations but was upended by terror attacks in Manchester and London during the campaign's closing days. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)
Police officers walk past as votes cast in the general election are counted in Islington in London, shortly after the polls closed Thursday, June 8, 2017. Britain voted Thursday in an election that started out as an attempt by Prime Minister Theresa May to increase her party's majority in Parliament ahead of Brexit negotiations but was upended by terror attacks in Manchester and London during the campaign's closing days. (Dominic Lipinski/PA via AP)
Votes for Britain's Labour party leader Jeremy Corbyn are placed in a pile as they are counted at his constituency in London, Friday, June 9, 2017. Britain voted Thursday in an election that started out as an attempt by Prime Minister Theresa May to increase her party's majority in Parliament ahead of Brexit negotiations but was upended by terror attacks in Manchester and London during the campaign's closing days. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)
Votes for Britain's Labour party leader Jeremy Corbyn are placed in a pile as they are counted at his constituency in London, Friday, June 9, 2017. Britain voted Thursday in an election that started out as an attempt by Prime Minister Theresa May to increase her party's majority in Parliament ahead of Brexit negotiations but was upended by terror attacks in Manchester and London during the campaign's closing days. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)
Britain's Labour party leader Jeremy Corbyn gestures as he arrives for the declaration at his constituency in London, Friday, June 9, 2017. Britain voted Thursday in an election that started out as an attempt by Prime Minister Theresa May to increase her party's majority in Parliament ahead of Brexit negotiations but was upended by terror attacks in Manchester and London during the campaign's closing days. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)
Britain's Labour party leader Jeremy Corbyn gestures as he arrives for the declaration at his constituency in London, Friday, June 9, 2017. Britain voted Thursday in an election that started out as an attempt by Prime Minister Theresa May to increase her party's majority in Parliament ahead of Brexit negotiations but was upended by terror attacks in Manchester and London during the campaign's closing days. (Dominic Lipinski/PA via AP)
Britain's Labour party leader Jeremy Corbyn, right, gestures toward Labour's Emily Thornberry after arriving for the declaration at his constituency in London, Friday, June 9, 2017. Britain voted Thursday in an election that started out as an attempt by Prime Minister Theresa May to increase her party's majority in Parliament ahead of Brexit negotiations but was upended by terror attacks in Manchester and London during the campaign's closing days. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)
Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May listens as the declaration at her constituency is made for in the general election in Maidenhead, England, Friday, June 9, 2017. British Prime Minister Theresa May's gamble in calling an early election appeared Friday to have backfired spectacularly, after an exit poll suggested her Conservative Party could lose its majority in Parliament. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May speaks after the declaration at her constituency is made for in the general election in Maidenhead, England, Friday, June 9, 2017. British Prime Minister Theresa May's gamble in calling an early election appeared Friday to have backfired spectacularly, after an exit poll suggested her Conservative Party could lose its majority in Parliament. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May listens as the declaration at her constituency is made for in the general election in Maidenhead, England, Friday, June 9, 2017. British Prime Minister Theresa May's gamble in calling an early election appeared Friday to have backfired spectacularly, after an exit poll suggested her Conservative Party could lose its majority in Parliament. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
U.K. Independence Party leader Paul Nuttall looks up in Boston, England after losing the Boston and Skegness seat in the general election Friday June 9, 2017. UKIP's vote has collapsed in the election, with former supporters going to both Labour and the Conservatives. The party looks unlikely to win any seats in the House of Commons. (Joe Giddens/PA via AP)
Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May listens as the declaration at her constituency is made for in the general election in Maidenhead, England, Friday, June 9, 2017. British Prime Minister Theresa May's gamble in calling an early election appeared Friday to have backfired spectacularly, after an exit poll suggested her Conservative Party could lose its majority in Parliament. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
A statue of former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill silhouettes in front of the Houses of Parliament the day after Britain's national elections in London, Friday, June 9, 2017. British Prime Minister Theresa May's gamble in calling an early general election backfired spectacularly, as her Conservative Party lost its majority in Parliament and pressure mounted on her Friday to resign. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)
People cross Westminster Bridge in front of the Houses of Parliament the day after Britain's national elections on London, Friday, June 9, 2017. British Prime Minister Theresa May's gamble in calling an early general election backfired spectacularly, as her Conservative Party lost its majority in Parliament and pressure mounted on her Friday to resign. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)
Benedictine nuns from Tyburn Convent leave after voting in Britain's general election at a polling station in St John's Parish Hall, London, Thursday, June 8, 2017. Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. (0600GMT to 2100GMT) Thursday as voters choose 650 lawmakers for the House of Commons. Prime Minister Theresa May called the snap election in hopes of increasing the Conservative Party's slim majority in Parliament, and strengthening her hand in European Union exit talks. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)
Benedictine nuns from Tyburn Convent leave after voting in Britain's general election at a polling station in St John's Parish Hall, London, Thursday, June 8, 2017. Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. (0600GMT to 2100GMT) Thursday as voters choose 650 lawmakers for the House of Commons. Prime Minister Theresa May called the snap election in hopes of increasing the Conservative Party's slim majority in Parliament, and strengthening her hand in European Union exit talks. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)
A view inside of a polling station at the White Horse Inn in Priors Dean, Hampshire, England also known as the 'Pub with no name' Thursday June 8, 2017. Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. (0600GMT to 2100GMT) Thursday as voters choose 650 lawmakers for the House of Commons. Prime Minister Theresa May called the snap election in hopes of increasing the Conservative Party's slim majority in Parliament, and strengthening her hand in European Union exit talks. (Andrew Matthews/PA via AP)
A man enters the polling station at the Golden Pheasant Public House in Lower Farringdon, Hampshire, England Thursday June 8, 2017. Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. (0600GMT to 2100GMT) Thursday as voters choose 650 lawmakers for the House of Commons. Prime Minister Theresa May called the snap election in hopes of increasing the Conservative Party's slim majority in Parliament, and strengthening her hand in European Union exit talks. (Andrew Matthews/PA via AP)
Policer officers arrive to enter a polling station in London ahead of the arrival of Britain's Labour party leader Jeremy Corbyn who will vote in the general election Thursday, June 8, 2017. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)
A man fixes a sign to the railings outside a polling station in London ahead of the arrival of Britain's Labour party leader Jeremy Corbyn who will vote in the general election Thursday, June 8, 2017. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)
Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May leaves with her husband Philip after voting in the general election at polling station in Maidenhead, England, Thursday, June 8, 2017. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May leaves with her husband Philip after voting in the general election at polling station in Maidenhead, England, Thursday, June 8, 2017. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
Britain's Labour party leader Jeremy Corbyn waves as he leaves the Labour party headquarters in London, Friday, June 9, 2017. British Prime Minister Theresa May's gamble in calling an early election backfired spectacularly, as her Conservative Party lost its majority in Parliament and pressure mounted on her Friday to resign. (AP Photo/Tim Ireland)
Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon waves as she arrives to cast her vote in the general election at a polling station at Broomhouse Community Hall in Glasgow Thursday, June 8, 2017. Polling stations have opened across Britain in an election to choose a new government. (Andrew Milligan/PA via AP)
Britain's Liberal Democrats leader Tim Farron arrives to cast his vote in the General Election at a polling station at Stonecross Manor Hotel in Kendal, England Thursday, June 8, 2017. Polling stations opened across Britain on Thursday amid heightened security worries following a series of terror attacks in what one senior police official described as “unprecedented times.’’(Danny Lawson/PA via AP)
Police officers ride away on their bikes after inspecting the polling station for Britain's general election, at Bermondsey Village Hall in the London Bridge area of London, Thursday, June 8, 2017. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)
British Prime Minister Theresa May and her husband Philip stand on the doorstep of 10 Downing Street, London, after addressing the press Friday, June 9, 2017 following an audience with Britain's Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace where she asked to form a government. May's gamble in calling an early election backfired spectacularly, as her Conservative Party lost its majority in Parliament. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)
British Prime Minister Theresa May and her husband Philip stand on the doorstep of 10 Downing Street, London, after addressing the press Friday, June 9, 2017 following an audience with Britain's Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace where she asked to form a government. May's gamble in calling an early election backfired spectacularly, as her Conservative Party lost its majority in Parliament. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)
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