Trump offers ‘warm support’ to Theresa May after UK election setback

Prime Minister Theresa May suffered one of the most dramatic reversals in recent British political history, losing an overall majority in parliament in a snap election she was predicted to win easily.

US President Donald Trump spoke to British Prime Minister Theresa May over phone and offered “warm support” after her Conservative party failed to muster an overall majority in Britain’s snap polls.

President Donald Trump listens during a news conference with Romania's President Klaus Werner Iohannis in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington on June 9. (AP Photo)

“President Trump emphasised his commitment to the United States-United Kingdom special relationship and underscored that he looks forward to working with the Prime Minister on shared goals and interests in the years to come,” the White House said in a statement on Friday.

May’s gamble of calling snap polls backfired after the British electorate delivered a hung Parliament and forcing her to seek the support of a small Northern Irish party for staying in power, as the country braces for hard Brexit talks.

With results declared for all of the 650 seats of the British Parliament, the Conservatives won 318 while the opposition Labour secured 262, leaving neither party anywhere close to the 326 seats required for an overall majority.