EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE DELHI THE HINDU 14 WORLD SATURDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2019 EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE Despite massive victory, Boris Johnson faces a battle for Britain Strong show by SNP and Irish nationalists raises concerns about independence movements gaining momentum Agence France-Presse London I won’t lead Labour in Prime Minister Boris John­ son may be revelling in his mighty election victory but next election: Corbyn the results in Scotland and Northern Ireland have hint­ Agence France-Presse Senior Labour figures ed at battles ahead in trying Associated Press have indicated that Mr. London to keep the U.K. together. Corbyn was responsible for Strong performances by Jeremy Corbyn on Friday the heavy losses. He Scottish and Irish national­ said he would not lead admitted in an acceptance ists in Thursday’s snap vote Britain’s main Opposition speech the results were will increase concerns about Labour Party in the next “very disappointing”. independence movements general election. “I will not He said a new party gaining momentum north of lead the party in any future leader would be chosen England’s border and in campaign,” the veteran early next year. Northern Ireland. socialist, 70, said after Mr. Corbyn defended his The Scottish National Par­ winning his north London “manifesto of hope” and ty (SNP) won 48 seats, almost seat for the 10th time. maintained they were matching its performance in Mr. Corbyn went into “extremely popular” during the 2015 election and setting Thursday’s election offering the campaign. But his up a showdown between Mr. a radical leftist programme message had been eclipsed Johnson and its combative for social change, including by Brexit. “Brexit has so leader Nicola Sturgeon. huge investment in public polarised and divided Ms. Sturgeon said it had services, as well as a second debate in this country, it has been an “exceptionally good referendum on Brexit. overridden so much of a night” for her party, leaving But he was criticised for normal political debate,” he Scotland and the rest of Bri­ his handling of allegations of added. “I recognise that has tain on “divergent paths”. anti­Semitism within Labour contributed to the results “I accept that Boris John­ and supposed sympathies that the Labour Party has son after this election has a with proscribed groups. received.” mandate to take England out DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD of the European Union, but he does not have a mandate be given the power to hold a the wake of demands by na­ to take Scotland out of the second independence vote. tionalists for a united Ire­ European Union,” she said, But the Conservative govern­ land. Both Scotland and adding that she would push ment is unlikely to accept her Northern Ireland voted for another independence demands. against Brexit in the shock referendum after losing a 2016 referendum. 2014 vote. Demands by nationalists Nationalists now — for the “I have a mandate, a re­ Conservative Party chairman first time since the partition newed, refreshed, streng­ James Cleverly told the BBC of Ireland in 1921 — hold thened mandate, to offer pe­ that Thursday’s result was more seats in the British Par­ ople in Scotland the choice not a mandate for a second liament than those who want of a different future. independence vote. “The to stay part of the U.K. “I don’t pretend everybo­ majority of votes in Scotland The hardline Democratic dy who voted SNP yesterday went to parties that are pro­ Unionist Party, which pre­ will necessarily support in­ union,” he said. “The 2014 viously held most Northern dependence, but there is a referendum was meant to be Irish seats in the Parliament, clear endorsement Scotland a once in a generation refe­ had a tough night, losing de­ should get to decide our fu­ rendum.” In that poll, Scot­ puty leader Nigel Dodds. Un­ ture and not have it decided land — a country of 5.4 mil­ ionists have also warned that for us,” she said. lion — voted by a margin of Mr. Johnson’s Brexit deal Ms. Sturgeon is expected 55% to 45% to stay in the U.K. creates a Customs border to write to Mr. Johnson be­ Mr. Johnson is also facing down the Irish Sea, which fore Christmas to formally the serious but less urgent they fear nationalists will ex­ demand Holyrood — the seat threat of keeping Northern ploit to pull Northern Ireland of the Scottish government — Ireland part of the U.K., in away from London's orbit. Fixing ties EU warns of ‘challenging’ A record 15 Indian­origin candidates win a challenge, This has been a hard­fought election in a very cold time of the year, says Priti Patel says Merkel timeframe for U.K. trade deal Press Trust of India Reuters London Brussels Member states will not accept it blindly, says EU Council A record 15 Indian­origin German Chancellor Angela candidates entered the Merkel on Friday said the Agence France-Presse strike a trade deal with Eu­ House of Commons on Fri­ shortage of time to fix fu­ Brussels rope and any British effort to day, registering seven wins ture relations with Britain European Commission Pre­ undermine the unity among each for the ruling Conserva­ post Brexit was a major sident Ursula von der Leyen the remaining 27 members. tive and Opposition Labour challenge. on Friday warned of the parties in the U.K. general “It’s about an array of re­ tight timing for securing a Level playing field election. lations, in trade, in fishing trade deal with Britain, In a text released after the The new Parliament is the and cooperation in securi­ hours after Boris Johnson’s talks, the 27 EU leaders most diverse ever, with one Three cheers: Conservative MPs, from left, Priti Patel, Rishi Sunak and Alok Sharma. ty and foreign policy,” Ms. Conservatives won a crush­ called for “as close as possi­ in 10 MPs now from an eth­ Merkel told mediapersons ing election victory. ble a future relationship nic minority background. “Time to Get Brexit Done Her fellow Cabinet col­ tion as the first British Sikh after an EU summit in Brus­ “The time frame ahead of European Commission with the U.K.” while warning All the nearly dozen In­ and get on with investing in leagues Rishi Sunak — the woman MP, was re­elected sels. us is very challenging,” Ms. President Ursula von der that it “will have to be based dian­origin MPs from the our schools, hospitals and son­in­law of Infosys co­ from Birmingham Edgbas­ “Our biggest hurdle will von der Leyen said, follow­ Leyen on a balance of rights and previous Parliament contest­ police to keep our streets founder Narayana Murthy — ton. Tanmanjeet Singh Dhe­ be that we need to sort out ing a discussion by EU lead­ obligations and ensure a le­ ing this time were successful safe,” said Goan­origin Cou­ and Alok Sharma, the former si, the first turbaned Sikh these issues very quickly.” ers on the way forward after coordinates EU summits, af­ vel playing field”. in clinching their seats, with tinho, who clinched victory International Development MP, will also return to the French President Em­ Brexit, now expected on Ja­ ter the talks. EU chief negotiator Mi­ Gagan Mohindra and Claire in the Surrey East seat. Minister, clinched victories Commons with an impres­ manuel Macron warned nuary 31. “Negotiations are over chel Barnier will direct trade Coutinho for the Conserva­ The other Tories to return from the Richmond and sive win from Slough in Britain that the more it On the “first of February, when the results are ba­ negotiations, which the lead­ tive Party, Navendru Mishra to the Commons include Pri­ Reading West seats, south­east England. chose to deregulate its eco­ we go to work,” she said. lanced and guarantee res­ ers will follow closely “and for Labour and Munira Wil­ ti Patel, the former U.K. respectively. Veteran Labour MP Viren­ nomy after Brexit, the EU Council President pect for the different con­ provide further guidance as son for the Liberal Demo­ Home Secretary who is likely Shailesh Vara won his dra Sharma won from Ealing more it will lose access to Charles Michel warned that cerns,” the former Belgian necessary, fully consistent crats among the first­timers. to remain in Mr. Johnson’s North West Cambridgeshire Southall. The others holding the European Union’s mar­ the 27 member states would premier said. with the EU's best interest,” “The better our Parlia­ top team in the new Cabinet seat, while Goan­origin Suel­ on to their seats included Li­ ket. “I don’t think that you not accept a deal blindly, “We have a way of doing conclusions added. ment reflects the diversity as well. “This has been a la Braverman clinched sa Nandy who won Wigan can have a strong relation­ stressing that the bloc would things based on experience, Mr. Johnson has until July within the country, the more hard­fought election in a ve­ Fareham. and Seema Malhotra who ship with Europe’s single insist that Britain respect Eu­ transparency and maintain­ 1 to ask for a trade talks ex­ likely it is that all voices will ry cold time of the year be­ From the Opposition La­ clinched Feltham and Hes­ market with substantial ropean norms to win the ing unity” in the EU, he tension. be represented,” said Mr. cause we needed a function­ bour Party, Navendru Mishra ton. Valerie Vaz, the sister of regulatory differences on deal. added. If he refuses to extend the Wilson, who won from the ing Conservative majority, clinched the Stockport seat, scandal­hit former MP Keith climate, environmental, “There is no question of EU is worried about the negotiation period, a no­ south­west London consti­ said Ms.