BBC News host Reeta Chakrabarti highlighted the Nottinghamshire constituency as she outlined all the seats gained by the Conservatives in Labour heartlands. She said: “Bassetlaw has some of the most startling figures in it. The new Conservative MP for Bassetlaw is Brendan Clarke-Smith, he took 55 percent of the share of the vote. So extraordinary is this, Labour’s vote absolutely plummeting through the floor.

“They lost 25 percent of the share of the vote compared to 2017.

“And if I show you the swing from Labour to Conservatives, look at that.

“An 18 percent of swing – that is probably the biggest win that we’ve seen during the night.”

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn defended his “extremely popular” policies and blamed Brexit for Labour’s devastating defeat as he announced he would stand down as leader after overseeing a “period of reflection”.

With the Tories expected to cruise to a comfortable majority, a deflated Mr Corbyn said it had been a “very disappointing night”, with support crumbling in former Labour heartlands.

Mr Corbyn acknowledged that he had to leave Labour’s helm after suffering a second General Election defeat as he criticised media “attacks” towards himself, his family and the party.

“I want to also make it clear that I will not lead the party in any future general election campaign,” he said as he accepted victory in his Islington North constituency.

“I will discuss with our party to ensure there is a process now of reflection on this result and on the policies that the party will take going forward.

“And I will lead the party during that period to ensure that discussion takes place and we move on into the future.”

Labour MP Anna McMorrin, who retained Cardiff North, said she blames Mr Corbyn for the party’s election defeat.

She told the PA news agency: “In the last few weeks of the campaign we knocked on around 15,000 doors, and a large proportion of those people we spoke to, the issue was Jeremy Corbyn.

“He’s shown tonight that he’s lost good, decent, hard-working Members of Parliament up and down the country, who are needed for this country to rebuild and to ensure that we’re protected and represented and that we create a fairer society.

“That can’t happen now, and I think the only person who can take responsibility is our leader.”

Asked if Labour lost traditional seats like Wrexham because of Mr Corbyn, Ms McMorrin said: “I think so.”

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Ms McMorrin, asked if she wanted to see Mr Corbyn stand down as leader immediately, said: “Yeah, I think we need to rebuild quickly now, or start the process at least of rebuilding the party.”

Labour’s Jess Phillips told ITV: “I’m devastated. I don’t know how you could have any other reaction other than being utterly heartbroken.”

Ms Phillips was asked if it was Brexit, Jeremy Corbyn or policies that were too far to the left which caused the Labour defeat and she said it was “all of those things and many other things”.

She added: “And the Labour Party is now on its fourth election defeat. It hasn’t won a general election since 2005. This is not a time for easy answers, as much as I wish it was, I wish there was some silver bullet but I also wish I was a size 10.”

The General Election exit poll forecast Labour to shed 52 seats to secure 191 – the party’s poorest result since 1935. And it put the Tories as securing 368 seats, giving the party a majority of 86.

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