JUSTIN TRUDEAU’S Liberal Party won the Canadian elections but did not secure enough seats for a majority, according to preliminary results announced early today.

The party was projected to win 156 seats, short of the 170 needed for the outright majority Mr Trudeau was seeking in calling the snap election.

The Conservatives conceded defeat and will remain Canada’s main opposition party with a predicted 122 seats.

“There are still votes to be counted, but what we’ve seen tonight is millions of Canadians have chosen a progressive plan.

“You elected a government that will fight for you and deliver for you,” Mr Trudeau told supporters.

But his gamble is largely seen as a costly failure, with the Liberal leader failing to explain convincingly why such a poll, the second in two years, was necessary.

“Canadians sent him back with another minority at a cost of $600 million [£343m] and deeper divisions in our great country,” Conservative leader Erin O’Toole said.

Mr Trudeau has been dogged by accusations of racism, with three known instances of him wearing blackface resurfacing during the election campaign.

He was accused of being “privileged, entitled and always looking after number one,” by Mr O’Toole.