On the 8th of June the United Kingdom went to polls to decide who will lead the country as Prime Minister. Polling stations closed at 22:00 local time. The number of citizens who registered to vote amount to 46.9 million (about 500,000 more than in 2015) and were called to elect 650 Members of Parliament (MPs). The party with the highest number of representatives elected in the House of Commons will form a new government.

The first exit poll, released as soon as polling stations closed at 22:00, suggested that the Conservatives remain the largest party with 314 seats, but will lose 17 seats (down from 331 in 2015 – out of 650). Official results will come starting from 23:00 local time. May aimed to exceed 331 seats in order to have a stronger position and government more freely. 326 seats are needed to win an overall majority. The main candidates were Theresa May (Conservative Party), Jeremy Corbyn (Labour Party) and Tim Farron (Liberal Democrats).

Candidate Bobby Smith, activist for fathers' rights, of the Give Me Back Elmo Party at a polling station in Maidenhead, England, where the Conservative candidate Theresa May cast her vote © Matt Cardy/Getty Images

Toby the Beagle outside the Glen Road polling station in Belfast, Northen Ireland © Charles McQuillan/Getty Images

Michelle O'Neill, Northern Irish party Sinn Féin candidate, at a polling station in Coalisland, Northern Ireland © Charles McQuillan/Getty Images

Theresa May, the Conservative Party candidate, with her husband Philip May at the polling station in Sonning Guide & Scout Hut in the Maidenhead constituency, England © Matt Cardy/Getty Images

Voters leave the polling station in Bonneville Primary School in London's Streatham constituency, England © Silvana Lauria

Chanel the Staffordshire Bull Terrier outside a polling station in the Tulse Hill Methodist Church in London, England © Chris J Ratcliffe/Getty Images

Guia the Labrador outside a polling station in Stalybridge, Greater Manchester, England © Anthony Devlin/Getty Images

Polling station in Jessop Primary School in London's Dulwich and West Norwood constituency, England © Chris J Ratcliffe/Getty Images

Jeremy Corbyn, Labour Party candidate, a the polling station in the Pakeman Primary School in London's Islington North constituency, England © Leon Neal/Getty Images

Nicola Sturgeon, Scottish National Party candidate, with her husband Peter Murrel at the polling station in Broomhouse Community Hall in Glasgow, Scotland © Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images

Dougie the Cocker Spaniel outside a polling station in Stalybridge, Greater Manchester, England © Anthony Devlin/Getty Images

Polling station in Bonneville Primary School in London's Streatham constituency, England © Silvana Lauria

Vote counting Glasgow, Scotland © Mark Runnacles/Getty Images

Jeremy Corbyn at Labour Headquarters, galvanised by the positive result of his party © Chris J Ratcliffe/Getty Images

Nicola Sturgeon, Scottish national party candidate, lost a number of seat © Mark Runnacles/Getty Images

Tim Farron wins the seat for Westmoorland and Lonsdale constituency, beating the other candidates including Independent Mr. Fishfinger (centre, left) © Dave Thompson/Getty Images

Our live coverage is ended. For more updates and info, read also:  Theresa May has “lost” but wants to form coalition government. Final UK election results

Theresa May’s speech: “Let’s get to work”

“I have just been to see Her Majesty the Queen and I will now form a government. A government that can provide certainty and lead Britain forward at this critical time for our country. This government will guide the country through the crucial Brexit talks which will begin in just 10 days and to deliver on the will of the British people by taking the UK out of the EU.

It will work to keep our nation safe and secure, by delivering the change that I set out following the appalling attacks in Manchester and London. Cracking down on the ideology of Islamist extremism and all those who support it, and giving the police and the authorities the powers they need to keep our country safe.

The government I lead will put fairness and opportunity at the heart of everything we do so that we will fulfil the promise of Brexit together and over the next five years build a country in which no one and no community is left behind. A country in which prosperity and opportunities are shared right across this United Kingdom. What this country needs more than ever is certainty and having secured the most amount of votes and the greatest amount of seats in the General Election, it is clear that only the Conservative and Unionist Party has the legitimacy and ability to provide that certainty by commanding a majority in the House of Commons.

As we do, we will continue to work with our friends and allies in the Democratic Unionist Party