Labour secured a significant victory in the UK general election, putting an end to 14 years of Conservative leadership. The exit poll indicated that Keir Starmer, the leader of the Labour party, would be the new occupant of Downing Street. While the final results were still to be announced, the exit polls left no doubt about the outcome of this historic vote.
According to projections from British television, Labour was poised to win 410 seats in the House of Commons out of 650. This victory, though slightly smaller than Tony Blair’s landslide in 1997, was a significant blow to the incumbent Conservative party, who were set to have only 131 MPs elected. This marked the worst result for the Conservative party since the beginning of the 20th century.
In addition to Labour’s success, the Liberal Democrats were expected to gain strength with 61 MPs. A surprising outcome of the election was the performance of the anti-immigration and anti-system party Reform UK, expected to win 13 seats. The Scottish independence movement, however, suffered a setback with only 10 constituencies won out of 57 in Scotland.
While right-wing parties were gaining influence in other countries, the UK chose a moderate centre-left leader in Keir Starmer. Starmer, a former human rights lawyer, was set to be tasked with forming a new government following the election results. He pledged to prioritize growth, public services, workers’ rights, and closer ties with the European Union.
The victory for Labour came after years of turbulence under the Conservative leadership, including the divisive issue of Brexit and economic challenges that left many Britons feeling disenfranchised. The incumbent Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s campaign had failed to resonate with voters, leading to a resounding defeat for the Conservative party.
In his first steps on the international stage, Starmer was set to attend the NATO 75th anniversary summit in Washington. He promised to get to work immediately, aiming to address the challenges facing the country without delay. The mandate given to Starmer by the voters signaled a desire for change and a fresh start after years of turmoil under the Tories’ rule.