Here’s what readers think about the UK general election results

After a volatile six-week campaign, British voters have shattered Theresa May’s hopes of a stronger Brexit mandate – instead, she lost her majority. A healthy debate has been rolling in the FT’s comment threads since the snap election was announced. Now the vote is in, and we want to hear your reaction.

Is this the start of an exciting new era or a painfully unstable future? Are you surprised by the high youth turnout? What do you think should happen next? Share your thoughts below. This story will serve as a hub for great reader comments from around FT.com.

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Thoughts on the future

“May needs to go. Good administrator, but not the visionary leader we need for this pivotal moment in world history and a future Britain. We need someone visionary and unifying. Make the UK the pride of the world by standing for the values that have brought us so far — liberalism and fairness.” –Interesting

“What would be in the best national interest is for David Davis and Keir Starmer to be made joint Brexit negotiators on behalf of the UK since whatever deal they bring back would have overwhelming support in the House of Commons. Anything else is going to fall apart under fire.” –Stephen T

“We need a Tory ‘Macron’ now asap: pro-business, pro-Europe, pro-climate, pro-youth, pro-hope and forward looking. Straight into Merkel and Macron: renegotiate EU Treaty, as per Cameron’s original plan. This is actually very very positive UK and GBP if true. Out with all forms of extremism — political and ideological!” –Homeboy

“FT asks ‘Now what?’ A Conservative minority government negotiating EEA membership. And in a few years, no one will speak about Brexit any more. Britain can then focus on building a modern society and economy again. Like the ones they have in northern and central Europe.” –Till S

“Very difficult situation. Does May stay on? Surely as a patriot she can see that fronting up a negotiation in which her stated strategy is ‘walk away hardball’ is even less likely to succeed now. Does she go? Apart from Ruth Davidson, all other senior Tories are damaged goods right now — and do we really need another unelected PM? Does she resign and call another GE? The Article 50 clock is already ticking and would hand her successor an impossible task. Could she stop it to allow a GE? Perhaps, but at the cost of a lot of newly won Ukip voters.” –Timpull

On Theresa May’s coalition with Northern Ireland’s rightwing DUP

“Something appears to be wrong with my television. I’m sure I just witnessed what appeared to be Theresa May make an extraordinary speech sans any humility and any recognition of her colossal failure.” –cellcall

“The general election produced a very worrying result in Northern Ireland. Both moderate unionists and nationalists were completely routed by the hardline Sinn Féin and DUP respectively. While the apparent success of the peace process is very much taken for granted by poorly informed British opinion, in truth the situation is quite fragile. The British government needs more than ever to preserve its neutrality and to avoid being drawn into the increasingly bitter divisions of unionist vs nationalist. I despair as I see this blinkered and unscrupulous prime minister clinging to power, putting party before country and putting self interest above all. This will end in tears.” –Sean Citizen

On Labour — and Corbyn’s — rise

“I will most likely never again vote Labour, but last night I did. I am pro business, pro growth and pro low taxes. Theresa May is not a credible pro business candidate, and on balance, even as a majority, Corbyn would have caused less longstanding damage to UK business. I suspect a lot of loyal Tories just couldn’t bring themselves to vote TM on the day.” –AP

“Brexit and to a lesser extent Corbyn seem to have really engaged the young. If turnout for under 35s keeps growing there could be a seismic shift in the amount that mainstream party manifestos are held hostage to the grey vote. Which is an excellent thing.” –Rob

“Hats off to Corbyn, he stuck to the old script. Promise the world, NHS, police, pensions etc etc and say that someone else will pick up the bill. Works every time.” –Wriggley

“If this goes as it seems to be going at the moment (0300 Friday morning GMT), Mr Corbyn will have secured a historic victory and critics such as myself, who were (and are) suspicious of his radical ideas will have been proved wrong. An astonishing performance . . . he certainly deserves much credit for this.” –Old School Canuck

“After cancelling my Labour membership at the beginning of the election, by the end I’d rejoined. I’ve never had a high opinion of Corbyn (who I know) but found myself Corbynised by the end of the election. I watched his finale in Islington, where he was as eloquent as Macron in Bercy, and wondered if I was looking at JC, anorak man who I’d known for many years when I lived in Islington. I think he’s opened up a [dialogue] about a fairer Britain and that’s why I voted for him. I hate the fact that my kids are looking at a 70k debt each when they go to Uni and am worried about the NHS too. Hopefully now the Labour MPs are regrouping around him, they can turn some great ideas into a more solid strategy for change.” –Bronte W

Instability ahead

“Is it too much to hope that actual adults will now enter the hung parliament, and everyone will take a step towards the centre? Yes, Brexit, but EEA? Yes, slightly higher taxes to support the NHS and to reduce the suffering caused by severe income inequality? Please, can we have some practical, fair-minded, non-xenophobic solutions and just get on with it?!” –eddy525

“Britain’s future may be less sure, but that is because there is now some hope that it might be good when before there was none. That is the good kind of uncertainty.” –BadAtPickingUsernames

“So the older vote brought us Brexit and the younger vote brings us this — we are still embroiled in a self-destructive intergenerational civil war in this country, set off by a Tory infight over the EU.” –Nicholas Jack

On Theresa May’s decline

“Could we view this as the long-term political fall-out from the economic crisis that started ten years ago? Inter-generational inequality; sky-high house prices, never-ending austerity that affects a sizeable chunk of society. These issues all flowed out of the last economic crisis, and require a political solution, that so far is lacking. For years politicians have hoped that we could grow our way out of these issues - clearly that is not the case.” –MBH

“It’s ironic: Mrs May won her job when her predecessor called an unnecessary referendum, and lost. But mistaking her own luck for skill, she went on to call an unnecessary general election that will now cost her the job. Oh well. Easy come, easy go.” –Funnymoney

“Over recent weeks the contempt for May shown by a majority of FT readers in their comments below the line was with hindsight a sign of things to come.” –Kane Clements

“Donald emasculated at home. May lost her majority. Le Pen restricted to the pages of history. Merkel back on top. All is well with the world.” –@lphaOm3ga

“Once again the Conservative party failed to recognise that the majority of people vote with their hearts, and by not being in touch with how people feel, they just made it harder for themselves. The prime minister came off as arrogant and gave the impression she was too good to even bother campaigning. Will this be better now that she will have to compromise with another party (or parties) and that would also keep her in check? Time will tell, but do learn your lesson … –LatinGuy

Other thoughts on the election

“Whatever you are about to do there now on the other side of the channel, just do not make Boris Johnson prime minister.” –Germanosuiza

“Sorry to see Nick Clegg go. He seems an honourable man and that is from a non Liberal supporter. I think he tried to be an honest politician.” –Bemused