Election live: Cumbria

Brexit negotiations must be put on hold and Theresa May must quit, Tim Farron has said.

The Liberal Democrat leader said talks about leaving the European Union, which are due to start in 11 days, should be delayed while the new government reviews its priorities and sets them out to the public.

Mr Farron, re-elected as Westmorland MP by the narrowest of margins last night, insisted there would be no deal to prop up a Conservative government, using Mrs May's own words against her by insisting "no deal is better than a bad deal".

"Like David Cameron before her, our Conservative Prime Minister rolled the dice with the future of our country out of sheer arrogance and vanity," he added.

Mr Farron said EU exit talks were "about to get very real" and warned the "consequences will be felt by every single person in this country".

The dire result for the Conservatives showed Mrs May's "extreme version" of Brexit had been rejected by the British people, he said.

"It is simply inconceivable that the Prime Minister can begin the Brexit negotiations in just two weeks' time.

"She should consider her future - and then, for once, she should consider the future of our country," he said.

"The negotiations should be put on hold until the Government has reassessed its priorities and set them out to the British public.

"The British people have a right to expect that our Prime Minister will explain to them what it is that she seeks to achieve."

The Lib Dem case for a referendum on the final Brexit deal "will only get stronger" as the talks continue, he claimed.

Theresa May standing down as Prime Minister might hold the key to getting Government backing for a new nuclear power station in Cumbria.

That’s the verdict of Rob Johnston, chief executive of Cumbria Chamber Commerce who says Government intervention to support Moorside is vital.

He hopes that if May stands down in the near future, as some pundits are suggesting, her successor will be more pro-nuclear.

The business leader is also urging Labour and the Conservatives to agree a common negotiating position on Brexit.

Reacting to the General Election result, which saw the Conservatives lose their majority but remain the largest party, he said: “It is difficult to see how a government with such a slender majority will be able to enter the Brexit negotiations with any credibility or authority.

“The answer is for the two main parties to agree a common position on Brexit, even if they can’t agree on anything else.

“Only then will Europe take us seriously.”

He added: “Certainly, business doesn’t want to see a hard Brexit with export tariffs and barriers to recruiting migrant labour.

“Theresa May has to recognise that and start listening to business.”

Mr Johnston is pleased that “a potentially damaging second Scottish independence referendum is now very unlikely”.

John Stevenson has held Carlisle for the Conservatives.

It's his third term in the constituency, and he's pledged to get business booming.

Rory Stewart has held Penrith & The Border for the Conservatives, with a comfortable majority.

• Conservatives - 28,078
• Labour - 12,168
• Liberal Democrats - 3,641
• UKIP - 1,142
• Green - 1,029
• Independent - 412

Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron has held the Westmorland & Lonsdale seat.

There was a nail-biting finish to the count, with news of a recount suggesting Mr Farron's majority had been seriously damaged.

That was indeed the case - his majority of around 9,000 in 2015 was left battered and bruised and he clung on by only 1.5 per cent of the vote.

• James Airey, Conservatives - 22,909
• Tim Farron, Liberal Democrats - 23,686
• Mr Fish Finger, Independent - 309
• Eli Aldridge, Labour - 4,783

The Conservatives have held Copeland, Trudy Harrison keeping the seat she won in February.

• Conservatives - 21,062
• Labour - 19,367
• Lib Dem - 1,404
• UKIP - 1,094

The result in Copeland is set to be announced.

A recount is underway at Westmorland & Lonsdale, showing a major threat to Lib Dem leader Tim Farron.

Sources have told ITV Border the Liberal Democrats are "worried" in Tim Farron's constituency of Westmorland and Lonsdale.