Britain votes: Highlights from the U.K. election

British voters cast their ballots on Thursday to elect a total of 650 Westminster members of Parliament to form the next British government. The result was a huge setback for Conservative Prime Minister, whose party was reduced to a minority. Here's a pictorial look at the election and campaign.

May gets permission

Prime Minister Theresa May is applauded by staff as she returns to 10 Downing Street after seeking and getting permission Friday from Queen Elizabeth to form a new government. She won 318 seats, short of the 326 needed for a majority.

Northern Irish party backs May

Democratic Unionist Party leader Arlene Foster, surrounded by her members of Parliament, holds a press conference at the Stormont hotel in Belfast, Northern Ireland, Friday.  She said she'll support the Conservatives, bringing 10 seats to the table and creating a majority.

Corbyn tastes success

Labour Party Leader Jeremy Corbyn is greeted as he arrives at party headquarters in London Friday. He appealed to young people with his promises to scrap university tuition fees and increase funding for schools and public health. The party far surpassed expectations, winning 261 seats in Parliament.

May votes Conservative

Prime minister and Conservative Party Leader Theresa May leaves after voting at a polling station in Maidenhead, England. The person at right, dressed as television character Elmo, was with a candidate seeking election to change family court law.

Corbyn votes Labour

British Labour Party Leader Jeremy Corbyn, right, has his polling card checked as he arrives to vote at a polling station in Islington, north London, on Thursday. 

Extra security at the polls

Police officers ride away on their bikes after inspecting the polling station in the London Bridge area. Many polling stations had increased security, with armed police reinforcing regular officers at some locations.

Portable polling station

Britons vote in a variety of polling stations, including private homes, churches, public facilities and this camper in Garthorpe, England.

How to vote

Polling stations come with a number of election instructions.

Sturgeon's 'Nicolopter'

Scotland's first minister and SNP leader, Nicola Sturgeon, boards the "Nicolopter" in Cumbernauld as she prepares to visit six separate constituencies over the course of a single day while on the campaign trail.

Road signs

A Scottish voter passes signs for local candidates in Edinburgh. 

Tight race

A woman wears tights showing the face of Labour Party Leader Jeremy Corbyn at a campaign rally in Birmingham. 

Big in Belfast

A Sinn Fein election worker stands beside a ballot campaign sign in Belfast as polling begins in Northern Ireland. 

Leaders' debate

Six leaders of the seven political parties campaigning in the general election joined Amber Rudd of the Conservative Party to take part in the BBC Leaders Debate in Cambridge, England. Conservative Leader Theresa May declined the opportunity.

Brexit ire

May launched the snap election campaign in mid-April, hoping to boost her party before Brexit talks began in earnest. Here, pro-EU protesters demonstrate with a float during May's visit to the BBC building in London, where she took part in a televised event on May 9. 

London attack vigil

Supporters hold signs of condolence for the victims of the London attack, outside the County Hotel where Britain's Labour Party Leader Jeremy Corbyn was delivering a campaign speech in Carlisle on June 4. National campaigning for the British elections was temporarily suspended by most of the main parties following the attack in London on the evening of June 3. 

Foxes on the campaign trail

Anti-hunt campaigners protest the lifting of the fox hunting ban, outside Downing Street in central London on May 29. May suggested holding a vote to repeal the fox hunting ban should the Conservative Party win the election. 

Parliament proclamation

In keeping with traditional practice, Col. Geoffrey Godbold, the City of London's common cryer and sergeant-at-arms, reads the proclamation of the summons for a new Parliament on the steps of the Royal Exchange, in London on May 4.

Election begins

Prime Minister Theresa May speaks outside 10 Downing Street after returning from visiting the Queen at Buckingham Palace in London, where she asked for the dissolution of Parliament ahead of the general election, on May 3.