In a historic vote, Labour emerged victorious in the UK general election, bringing an end to 14 years of Conservative rule. Projections from British television showed that Keir Starmer, leader of the Labour party, would be the new occupant of Downing Street. While final results were yet to be announced, exit polls left no doubt about the outcome.
Labour was poised to win 410 seats in the House of Commons out of 650, a significant blow to the incumbent Conservative party who were set to have only 131 MPs elected. This marked the worst result for the Conservatives since the beginning of the 20th century. On the other hand, the Liberal Democrats were expected to gain strength with 61 MPs. The anti-immigration and anti-system party Reform UK was also expected to win 13 seats. However, the Scottish independence movement suffered a setback with only 10 constituencies won out of 57 in Scotland.
The victory for Labour came after years of turbulence under Conservative leadership, including divisive issues such as Brexit and economic challenges that left many Britons feeling disenfranchised. Rishi Sunak’s campaign failed to resonate with voters, leading to a resounding defeat for his 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 and address challenges facing his country without delay. The mandate given by voters signaled a desire for change and a fresh start after years of turmoil under Tory rule.
Keir Starmer is known for his legal background and has promised prioritize growth, public services, workers’ rights and closer ties with Europe during his tenure as Prime Minister.
