The exit poll suggests Labour is on course for 410 seats, with the Conservatives reduced to 131.

Liberal Democrats will secure 61, while the Reform Party will get 13, the SNP falls back to 10, Plaid Cymru in Wales secures four seat in the UK parliament. Others, including the North’s parties secure 38, according to the Exit Poll.

It will mean a Labour prime minister in No 10 for the first time in 2010 and the Conservatives facing a possible civil war as the fight for the future direction of the party and the battle to potentially replace Mr Sunak gets under way.

Shortly before polls closed, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said: “To the hundreds of Conservative candidates, thousands of volunteers and millions of voters: Thank you for your hard work, thank you for your support, and thank you for your vote.”

The North’s First Minister Michelle O’Neill voted at the polling station at St Patrick’s Primary School in Clonoe, Co Tyrone.

She briefly spoke with a Sinn Féin member in a makeshift mobile outside the polling station.

Ms O’Neill spent several minutes inside to cast her vote.

Asked by photographers for a thumbs-up, she laughed and said: “Will a smile do?”

As she left the polling station, she shouted goodbye to local children and waved to voters.