The results of the snap UK elections called by Prime Minister Theresa May suggest that things would not go as per her plans. Even though the incumbent, who is less than a year old in office, tried to project this election as one focusing on Brexit, which she tried to give shape in a hard way and called for the unexpected polls to strengthen her hands, the poll results have showed that democracy can be a two-way sword.
May, who held on to her own seat Maidenhead in this election, was visibly defensive while speaking to an audience on the result day saying the country requires "stability". But has her party really helped the UK to become stable ever since its big victory in 2015?
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The prime minister ruined whatever chances the Conservatives had regarding Brexit by calling this snap poll. Now, with the Tories' absolute majority looking to turn a working one or may be even not that, accomplishing Brexit will look a humongous task for the UK leadership – irrespective of the party.
If the Brexit procedure finds the going really tough, it would essentially mean that the UK's political leadership has succeeded in betraying the verdict the people had given in the 2016 referendum and it could strive for renegotiating to safeguard its access to the single market. What a mess!
May's position will be undermined even if she remains PM
May's own position will also be undermined by a number of factors. First, the recent terror attacks in the UK and the PM's own role as the home secretary when Cameron was in power. The number of police personnel was reduced by 20,000 when May was the home secretary.
Secondly, May's performance as the PM. Her U-turns on social welfare and "dementia tax" controversy also made her short stint unpopular.
And then there is the rise of Jeremy Corbyn, the Labour leader who looked ousted not so long ago. The veteran overcame internal hurdles in his own party and posed a challenge to May which eventually proved to be formidable. The result of this election has been more of an endorsement of both Corbyn as a person and his populist left-wing politics.
May's fall in June is a lesson for the Conservatives and also the entire UK. The political leadership of the country did one goof-up after another to settle the idea of Brexit, for or against. And now, with a majority government losing its clout over the Brexit, Britain's future is something not many will bet on at this moment.
