London, England – David Cameron’s Conservative Party is projected to win the most seats in the UK election, but the country could be heading for political stalemate, according to the first exit poll after voting ended.

The BBC/Sky/ITV News poll projected the Conservatives winning 307 seats in the 650-seat House of Commons — 19 short of a majority.

Gordon Brown’s Labour Party, in power for the last 13 years, is projected to win 255 seats while Nick Clegg’s Liberal Democrats are projected to win 59 seats.

If the predictions are borne out by results the UK is heading for a “hung parliament” in which no single party controls an overall majority. But Cameron would likely claim a mandate to form the country’s next government.

The leader of the largest party traditionally gets the first chance to form a government and become prime minister.

The official results are not expected until Friday, after votes are counted by hand through the night across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

(Source: CNN / Sky News)