Image source, Reuters
Comment on the image, Keir Starmer and his wifeArticle information
- Author, Graeme Baker and Matt Murphy
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2 hours ago
Labour has won a landslide victory in the UK general election, sweeping hundreds of seats across the country and ending 14 years of Conservative rule.
Keir Starmer is set to be appointed prime minister later on Friday, ending an era that has seen the country run by five different Conservative leaders.
Outgoing Prime Minister Rishi Sunak conceded Labour’s victory at around 5am and said he had called Starmer to congratulate him.
In his victory speech minutes after the win, the Labour leader promised “national renewal” and would put “country first, party second”.
The result represents a stunning reversal of fortunes for the party: in 2019, under the leadership of veteran left-wing politician Jeremy Corbyn, Labour suffered its worst electoral defeat in almost a century.
Conversely, Robert Buckland, the former Conservative minister who lost his seat, described it as an “electoral disaster” for the Conservatives.
It is believed to be the party’s worst result in nearly 200 years, with a battle over the party’s future direction expected to begin in the coming days.
With the results in, there’s a lot of action and events ahead, here’s what’s happening, and what it all means.
A big victory for the Labour Party
The British House of Commons has 650 MPs, or Members of Parliament, each of whose “seats” represents an individual constituency or area somewhere in the country.
Labour won 412 seats, the Conservatives fell to just 121 and the Liberal Democrats won 71.
The Reform Party, which was originally created as the Brexit Party, won four seats.
Labour’s projected majority of 170 seats in the House of Commons is a huge number, but still slightly short of the 179 seats the party achieved under Tony Blair in the 1997 election.
But despite this, the Conservatives’ 2019 election victory under Boris Johnson, seen as a very strong performance, saw them secure an 80-seat majority.
It is worth noting that if a party obtains a majority, this means that it does not need to rely on other parties to pass laws, and the larger the majority, the easier it is.
Big Names Fall One by One (But Some Survived)
As the electoral districts announced their results live on television, all the candidates lined up next to each other, and there were some key moments.
Perhaps most notable was the defeat of Liz Truss, who had previously served as prime minister for just 49 days before being ousted by her party, as she lost her seat early on Friday morning in her constituency of south-west Norfolk.
Jacob Rees-Mogg, the former Conservative business secretary and Brexit supporter, was also one of the biggest names to suffer defeat, losing his seat in East Somerset and Hanham to Labour.
He told the BBC he could “not blame anyone but himself” for the loss but took “a small sliver of hope” from the fact that the Conservatives would be “at least the official opposition”, a reference to fears that they would not even be.
Defence Secretary Grant Shapps looked upset after losing his seat in southern England.
Commons Speaker Penny Mordaunt, who challenged Rishi Sunak for the party leadership before he became prime minister, also lost her seat.
Jeremy Hunt, who holds the position of Chancellor, the equivalent of the UK’s Chancellor of the Exchequer, retained his seat but with a narrow majority.
For his part, Sunak won his seat in Yorkshire with a comfortable majority of about 12,000 votes, but gave a speech in which he accepted the concession and confirmed that his party had lost the election.
Image source, PA Media
Comment on the image, Jacob Rees-Mogg and another candidate in his constituency, neither of whom won.
New Prime Minister in one day
Things move quickly in British politics, with only a short time between the election result and the inauguration of the new Prime Minister.
Rishi Sunak left 10 Downing Street, Britain’s equivalent of the White House, within 24 hours, and Keir Starmer was swiftly installed afterwards.
The process is taking place according to specific procedures; Sunak submitted his resignation to the King, and Starmer received a formal invitation from the King to form the next government at a meeting held at Buckingham Palace.
Who is Keir Starmer?
Relatively speaking, Starmer is relatively new to politics.
Starmer began his career as a barrister in the 1990s, and was appointed Director of Public Prosecutions (the top criminal prosecutor in England and Wales) in 2008.
He was first elected to the Holborn and St Pancras constituency in north London in 2015, and took over the Labour leadership after the party’s poor 2019 general election, promising a “new era” after the left-wing leadership of Jeremy Corbyn.
Starmer was re-elected in the same constituency on Thursday, saying in his victory speech that people were “ready for change” and promising to “end performance politics”.
“Change starts here because this is your democracy, your community and your future,” he said. “You voted, now it’s time for us to deliver.”
Finally, Nigel Farage becomes an MP
Image source, Reuters
Comment on the image, Nigel Farage after his victory
The party seen as a rebel in this election was the Reform Party, the right-wing successor to the Brexit and UK Independence Party.
In his eighth attempt, its leader Nigel Farage won a seat, but his party’s initial forecast of 13 seats dwindled to four.
That’s still better than UKIP and Brexit ever did, and Farage was celebrating, as the party’s share of the vote stood at 14 percent.
The Islah Party sparked controversy during the election campaign due to offensive statements made by some of its candidates and activists.
Farage will be joined in the Commons by former Conservative deputy leader Lee Anderson, Reform founder Richard Tice and Robert Lowe.
UK Election: Labour Wins Landslide Victory, Starmer to Become Prime Minister
In a stunning turn of events, the Labour Party has secured a landslide victory in the UK general election, sweeping hundreds of seats across the country and ending 14 years of Conservative rule. Keir Starmer, Labour’s leader, is set to be appointed prime minister later on Friday, marking the end of an era that saw five different Conservative leaders at the helm.
Outgoing Prime Minister Rishi Sunak conceded Labour’s victory around 5 am, calling Starmer to offer his congratulations. In his acceptance speech, the Labour leader promised “national renewal,” pledging to put “country first, party second.”
The result signifies a dramatic reversal of fortunes for Labour. In 2019, under the leadership of Jeremy Corbyn, the party suffered its worst electoral defeat in almost a century. This time, however, the Conservatives faced a public backlash over a series of scandals and perceived failures, paving the way for Labour’s exceptional triumph.
A Big Victory for the Labour Party
The British House of Commons comprises 650 MPs (Members of Parliament), each representing a specific constituency. Labour’s victory was decisive, with the party winning 412 seats compared to the Conservative Party’s 121. The Liberal Democrats garnered 71 seats, while the Reform Party secured four seats.
Labour’s projected majority of 170 seats in the House of Commons is a substantial number, though slightly short of the 179 seats achieved under Tony Blair in the 1997 election. Notably, in the 2019 election, Boris Johnson’s Conservatives secured a robust 80-seat majority.
It’s crucial to understand that a majority allows a party to pass laws without relying on other parties for support. The larger the majority, the smoother the legislative process.
Big Names Fall One by One (But Some Survived)
As the electoral districts announced their results live on television, there were several captivating moments.
One of the most noteworthy defeats was that of Liz Truss, who served as prime minister for a mere 49 days before being ousted by her own party. She lost her seat in south-west Norfolk early Friday morning.
Jacob Rees-Mogg, the former Conservative business secretary and Brexit supporter, also experienced a significant setback, losing his seat in East Somerset and Hanham to Labour.
Grant Shapps, the Defence Secretary, appeared visibly disheartened after losing his seat in southern England. Likewise, Commons Speaker Penny Mordaunt, who challenged Rishi Sunak for the party leadership, suffered defeat.
Jeremy Hunt, the Chancellor, managed to retain his seat, but with a narrow majority. Sunak secured his seat in Yorkshire with a comfortable margin but readily acknowledged the Conservatives’ loss.
New Prime Minister in One Day
British politics operates at a rapid pace, with a swift transition between election results and the inauguration of a new Prime Minister. Sunak left 10 Downing Street within 24 hours, paving the way for Keir Starmer’s installation.
The process adheres to specific procedures: Sunak submitted his resignation to the King, after which Starmer received a formal invitation from the King to form the next government at a meeting in Buckingham Palace.
Who is Keir Starmer?
Starmer, relatively new to politics, began his career as a barrister in the 1990s. In 2008, he was appointed Director of Public Prosecutions, the top criminal prosecutor in England and Wales. He was elected to represent the Holborn and St Pancras constituency in north London in 2015. Following Labour’s poor performance in the 2019 general election, he assumed the party leadership, promising a “new era” after Corbyn’s tenure.
Re-elected to his constituency on Thursday, Starmer stated that people were “ready for change” in his victory speech. He pledged to “end performance politics” and emphasized the importance of community and the future. “Change starts here because this is your democracy, your community and your future,” he declared. “You voted, now it’s time for us to deliver.”
Finally, Nigel Farage Becomes an MP
In this election, the Reform Party, the right-wing successor to the Brexit and UK Independence Party, emerged as a disruptive force. After eight attempts, its leader, Nigel Farage, finally secured a seat. However, the party’s initial forecast of 13 seats dwindled to four. This outcome still surpasses UKIP and Brexit’s previous performance, and Farage celebrated the party’s share of the vote, which stood at 14 percent.
Farage will be joined in the Commons by Lee Anderson, Richard Tice, and Robert Lowe.