Labour Party Secures Landslide Victory
The Labour Party has won the UK’s general election with a landslide victory, according to exit poll projections. Sir Keir Starmer’s centre-left party is set to return to power with a massive majority, ending 14 years of Conservative rule. Sir Keir, a former chief prosecutor and human rights lawyer who entered Parliament in 2015, is poised to become the new UK prime minister on Friday.
Conservatives Suffer Historic Defeat
Incumbent Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has led the Conservatives to their worst electoral defeat in over a century. Former minister Robert Buckland, who lost his seat, described the outcome as “electoral Armageddon”. The night promises to be long, with vote counting underway and numerous storylines emerging.
Labour’s Dominance in Parliament
The exit poll projects Labour will win 410 seats in the House of Commons, compared to 131 for the Conservatives, 61 for the Liberal Democrats, and 13 for Reform UK. This result would give Labour a 170-seat majority, though still short of Tony Blair’s 179-seat majority in 1997. For perspective, Boris Johnson secured an 80-seat majority for the Conservatives in 2019. While not official, exit polls have been accurate in recent elections.
Notable Losses Among Conservatives
As vote counting continues, several high-profile Conservatives are expected to lose their seats. Cabinet minister Steve Baker and former Conservative leader Iain Duncan Smith have less than a 1% chance of retaining their positions. Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has a less than 20% chance of success. Defence Minister Grant Shapps and Veterans Minister Johnny Mercer are also at risk of losing their seats.
Immediate Transition of Power
The timeline for a new prime minister hinges on a party achieving 326 seats, the majority needed in parliament. If Labour’s projected victory holds, Sir Keir Starmer will swiftly move into 10 Downing Street, replacing Rishi Sunak. The leader of the second-largest party will become the “leader of the opposition.”
Rise of Reform UK
Reform UK, the successor to the Brexit Party and UK Independence Party, is projected to win at least 13 seats, marking a significant breakthrough. In early results from north-east England, Reform UK placed second behind Labour, surpassing the Conservatives. Nigel Farage, standing in Clacton, could finally secure a seat in Parliament on his eighth attempt. However, Reform UK faced controversy during the campaign due to offensive statements by some candidates and activists.
Path to the Election
In late May, facing poor poll numbers, Rishi Sunak called a snap election, initiating a six-week campaign. The Conservatives have governed since 2010, with five leaders in that period, including a tumultuous 2022 when the UK saw three prime ministers in a few weeks. Labour, which hasn’t won a general election since 2005, suffered its worst defeat in nearly a century in 2019 under Jeremy Corbyn. Keir Starmer campaigned to show voters that Labour had moved on and was ready to govern. Sunak, meanwhile, warned against granting Labour a large majority.
The full impact of Labour’s projected landslide victory will become clearer as more results are declared and the transition of power begins.
