Boris Johnson wins mandate for Brexit divorce, Corbyn's Labour falls behind

Boris Johnson faces the challenge of striking new international trade deals, preserving London's position as a top global financial capital and keeping the United Kingdom together.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson won a resounding election victory on Friday that will allow him to end three years of political paralysis and take Britain out of the European Union within weeks.

The Brexit divorce represents Britain's biggest political and economic gamble since World War Two, cutting the world's fifth largest economy adrift from the vast trading bloc and testing the integrity of the United Kingdom.

For Johnson, who had faced gridlock in parliament and focused his campaign on a vow to "Get Brexit Done", victory was a vindication.

"The people of this country have given us tonight a huge great stonking mandate,"