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British Election Results Expected Friday

by Chris Hannas

   Voters in Britain cast ballots Thursday for the House of Commons, the
   lower house of parliament, in a snap election called in an effort to
   solidify support for the ruling party ahead of negotiations to exit the
   European Union.

   Thursday's weather was rainy and windy, but experts said that was
   unlikely to keep voters away from the polls.

   While the upcoming Brexit process was the catalyst for the vote,
   British citizens may be more concerned with security after recent
   terror attacks in both London and Manchester that killed a total of 30
   people and injured dozens more.

   Earlier Thursday, police closed off an area near the Charing Cross
   subway station due to a suspicious package. The area is a major
   crossroads for locals and tourists alike. The Metropolitan Police later
   said the package turned out to be no threat.

   Polls in Britain closed late Thursday night, and results of the vote
   for the 650 seats were expected early Friday morning.

   When Prime Minister Theresa May called the election, her Conservative
   Party held a huge lead in public opinion polls along with its slim
   majority in parliament. That support has dwindled in the past few
   months, but polls just ahead of Thursday's voting still showed the
   party leading the main opposition Labour Party.