To make a government in the United Kingdom, a political party has to do well enough in a general election to win an "overall majority" in the House of Commons.
"I'm sorry for all those candidates and hard working party workers who weren't successful", May had said on Friday after a surprise resurgence by the main opposition Labour Party under its leftwing leader Jeremy Corbyn. "At this time more than anything else, this country needs a period of stability", she said, suggesting she would attempt to form a government even if her party loses its majority.
The centre-right Conservatives found themselves eight short of the coveted 326-seat mark after the Labour Party, led by socialist stalwart Jeremy Corbyn, scored hefty gains.
In a resignation statement on the Conservative Home website, Timothy conceded that the campaign had failed to communicate "Theresa's positive plan for the future", and missed signs of surging support for the opposition Labour Party.
Transport Secretary Chris Grayling sprang to Mrs May's defence, insisting she needed to stay in office for the national interest.
But what message has the British electorate tried to send about Brexit, and will the European Union even push for a delay in talks until the situation is clearer? Further announcements were expected on Saturday.
After a disastrous election for her party, British Prime Minister Theresa May will now finish assembling her new Cabinet and prepare for the start of Brexit talks.
May said Brexit talks would begin on June 19 as scheduled, the same day as the formal reopening of parliament. Conservatives continue to be the largest party in the UK.
If all this uncertainty weren't enough, the Labour Party, which won 261 seats in the election, has its own divisions to deal with.
Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May waits for the result of the vote in her constituency at the count center for the general election in Maidenhead on June 9, 2017.
"In any case the negotiations are going to be complicated. Do your best to avoid a "no deal" as result of 'no negotiations'".
"We want there to be a government".
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The focus of this hearing was supposed to be on the law surrounding the unmasking of names in surveillance operations. Comey, who was sacked by Trump on May 9, is scheduled to testify before the same committee Thursday morning.
"The British need to negotiate their exit but with a weak negotiating partner, there is a danger that the talks are bad for both parties", he told German radio.
Across Europe, leaders had little sympathy for the PM.
Tim Bale, professor of politics at Queen Mary University of London, said it's not even clear whether May will now lead those negotiations.
However, former Conservative party leaders warned against any immediate change, with Iain Duncan Smith saying leadership contest would be a "catastrophe".
Mr Timothy and Ms Hill had worked for Mrs May when she was home secretary prior to becoming prime minister in July a year ago in the chaotic days that followed the Brexit vote.
The survey predicted the Conservatives will get 314 seats and the Labour Party 266.
John Curtice, who oversees the exit poll for a consortium of broadcasters, said Friday that the Conservatives' final tally might be a bit higher than 314, but it was extremely unlikely they would get a majority.
May's miscalculation may also cost her with her colleagues, who could press for a new leader.
May had called the snap vote in April to strengthen her mandate ahead of negotiations with the European Union to quit the bloc.
The stunning election result comes after a campaign in which May lost popularity over her style and some of her social care policies, including a so-called "dementia tax" that would force the elderly to pay more for their care.
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.
Ryssdal: Who, though, Stephen - and yes, May's job is at risk here - but who wants this job now?
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