In the general election on Thursday, the social democratic Labour Party of opposition leader Keir Starmer won an absolute majority. This was confirmed on Friday night, although 185 of the 650 constituencies still had to be counted. The conservative Prime Minister Rishi Sunak had previously admitted his defeat and congratulated his opponent Starmer.
Immediately following the election victory was confirmed, the future head of government Starmer addressed his supporters. “Change begins now. The light of hope is shining once more,” he stressed. After 14 years of conservative rule, the new government wants to “open a new chapter” and end the political chaos. “We are starting to rebuild this nation.” Starmer is expected to be commissioned by King Charles III to form a government later on Friday.
TV analysis with OÖN editor Eike-Clemens Kullmann:
“Today power will be transferred in a peaceful manner”
Sunak had previously said in Richmond, northern England, that he had already called Starmer and congratulated him. “Today, power will be handed over in a peaceful manner,” promised the conservative head of government. He took responsibility for his party’s massive defeat, but announced at the same time that he wanted to remain a member of parliament. At almost the same time, it was announced that Finance Minister Jeremy Hunt had also been able to defend his shaky seat in the House of Commons. Because two important opponents, Defense Minister Grant Shapps and former minister Penny Mordaunt, lost their seats, Hunt emerged as a possible successor to Sunak.
Video: Sophie Roupetz (ORF) is live on location in London. She talks regarding the election result, the new start for Great Britain and the defeat of Rishi Sunak
According to an updated BBC forecast, the Conservatives will now only have 144 of the 650 MPs in the House of Commons, while the Labour Party of future Prime Minister Starmer will have an overwhelming majority of 410 seats. Sunak was fighting a losing battle in the election campaign following Brexit campaigner Nigel Farage threw his hat into the ring with his right-wing populist Reform UK. It was able to take many votes away from the governing party, especially in former Brexit strongholds, while voters in the political centre turned to the Labour Party.
Image: TEMILADE ADELAJA (APA/AFP/POOL/TEMILADE ADELAJA)
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Image: TEMILADE ADELAJA (APA/AFP/POOL/TEMILADE ADELAJA)
The biggest winner of the evening seemed to be the former long-serving MEP Farage, who had unsuccessfully applied for a seat in the House of Commons seven times. He now managed to enter the British Parliament with 46.2 percent of the vote in the Brexit stronghold of Clacton-on-Sea. The conservative incumbent Giles Watling lost 44 percentage points there to 27.9 percent. Before Farage, the Tory defector Lee Anderson was declared the election winner in Ashfield in central England. Anderson, who had been suspended by the Tories for anti-Muslim statements, thus became the first elected right-wing populist MP in Great Britain.
“This is just the first step of something that will shock you all,” said Farage in his victory speech. There is a “massive gap on the right of the political spectrum and it is my job to fill it.” “This Labour government is going to be in trouble very soon,” announced Farage, referring to the victorious opposition party. He wants to lure voters away from Labour, especially since there was no enthusiasm for the party at this election. Instead, Reform UK has achieved “something truly extraordinary” within a few weeks and without any financial means. “We came second in hundreds of constituencies.”
