GG News Bureau
London, 5th July. In a historic electoral outcome, the Labour Party has clinched victory in the UK general elections, crossing the majority mark of 326 seats in the 650-member House of Commons. Keir Starmer is set to take over as the new British Prime Minister, succeeding the Conservative leader Rishi Sunak, whose party faced significant losses throughout the night.
Sunak conceded defeat shortly before Labour reached the majority threshold, acknowledging the Labour Party’s victory and extending congratulations to Starmer. “The Labour Party has won this general election, and I have called Sir Keir Starmer to congratulate him on his victory… Today, power will change hands in a peaceful and orderly manner, with goodwill on all sides. That is something that should give us all confidence in our country’s stability and future,” Sunak stated. He also apologized to Conservative candidates who lost, accepting responsibility for the electoral outcome.
According to exit polls and early results, Labour is poised to secure approximately 410 seats, comfortably surpassing the halfway mark and securing a commanding 170-seat majority, while the Conservatives are projected to hold just 131 seats. As of 9:30 am IST, Labour had secured 333 seats, with the Conservatives trailing behind at 73 seats. The Liberal Democrats won 45 seats, while the Reform UK and the Scottish National Party each secured four seats.
The election night saw significant upsets for the Conservatives, with several Cabinet ministers losing their seats. Commons leader Penny Mordaunt, Defence Secretary Grant Shapps, Justice Secretary Alex Chalk, and former Justice Secretary Sir Robert Buckland were among the casualties. Meanwhile, Reform UK leader Nigel Farage won his first parliamentary seat after seven previous attempts, and former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn secured victory as an independent candidate in Islington North.
In his victory speech, Starmer declared, “Change begins now,” emphasizing a return to politics as public service and addressing the challenges facing the country. Despite the resounding win, Starmer acknowledged the daunting tasks ahead, including economic recovery, healthcare improvements, and addressing public discontent. He pledged not to raise taxes for working people and emphasized Labour’s commitment to responsible governance.
As Labour prepares to assume power after 14 years of Conservative government, the future direction of the Conservative Party faces scrutiny and internal debate. The election results reflect a decisive shift towards the centre-left, contrasting recent far-right gains in European politics, positioning Starmer’s leadership as pivotal in guiding the nation forward.
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