BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (CMC) — Caribbean leaders were on Friday extending congratulations to their British counterpart, Boris Johnson, following the Conservative Party’s emphatic victory in the general election on Thursday.

St Lucia’s Prime Minister Allen Chastanet, who is the chairman of the 15-member Caribbean Community grouping, congratulated Johnson and the Conservative Party for their massive win at the polls in the UK.

“The Government of St Lucia lends its full support to the new Administration bearing in mind the deep ties which exist between our two countries,” Chastanet said, adding, “democracy has spoken once again, and in the wake of these results the UK will undoubtedly engage in a period of reflection and ultimately embark on a meaningful way forward for all its people.

“St Lucia stands ever-ready to be a long-term partner with the Government and people of the United Kingdom in the years ahead,” he said in his congratulatory message.

For his part, St Kitts-Nevis Prime Minister Dr Timothy Harris said that the “historic landslide victory has delivered the biggest win for the Conservatives since 1987, during the era of Margaret Thatcher, with 365 seats won yesterday in the 650-seat House of Commons.

“With this comfortable majority, you and your Conservative Party have been handed a sweeping mandate to achieve the will of the people and implement your agenda, which includes moving quickly to take Britain out of the European Union.”

Harris told Prime Minister Johnson that his “successful campaign, which ran on the promise to ‘Get Brexit Done’, resonated with a large swath of the electorate who also responded well to your vows to lower taxes, prioritise help for those who struggle to meet the cost of living, and increase the living wage.

“Now, the people have spoken, entrusting you and your Conservative Party with the country’s future,” Harris said, adding, “my Cabinet colleagues and I extend best wishes to you and your Government, and I take this opportunity to convey our sincere interest in dialoguing and working together to advance our nations’ efforts and commitments to our people, both at home and in the Diaspora.

“We also look forward to holding meaningful discussions on how we can develop our trade relationship post-Brexit, as well as enhance areas of cooperation, in part, through our membership in the Commonwealth.”

Johnson’s victory was a crushing defeat for the Opposition Labour Party, whose leader, Jeremy Corbyn, said he would step down after a “process of reflection”.

The leader of the pro-Remain Liberal Democrat Party, Jo Swinson, lost her seat, as the Scottish National Party swept the board in Scotland.