Bhubaneswar: Ending the 14-year rule of the Conservatives, the Labour Party has won 326 seats of the 650 in the UK’s 2024 general election to have a majority in Parliament.
The vote counting was underway at the time of filing of this report.
According to media reports, Labour Party leader Keir Starmer is all set to become the new Prime Minister of the UK.
The results prompted outgoing PM, Rishi Sunak, to concede defeat. Briefing the media in his north Yorkshire constituency, Sunak said he had called Starmer to congratulate him on his victory. “The Labour Party has won this general election,” he had conceded.
In his address to the media, Sunak said, “The British people have delivered a sobering verdict tonight. There is much to learn and reflect on.”
The Conservative Party leader has, however, managed to retain Richmond Northallerton seat. As per reports, Sunak may be replaced as the Conservative Party Leader after the defeat.
‘Change begins now’
Soon after Sunak conceded defeat, Starmer addressed a victory rally in London in the early hours of Friday (local UK time). As per media reports, Starmer said, “Change begins now…having a mandate like this comes with a great responsibility.” Starmer won his seat in North London seat but with a lesser majority, cited an Associated Press report.
Big defeats for Conservatives
Media reports claimed Defence Secretary Grant Shapps lost his seat to Labour’s Andrew Lewin. Former Justice Minister Robert Buckland was the first Conservative leader to be defeated as the results came in. According to reports, Buckland criticized his own party for “performance art politics.” The leader, reportedly, claimed that the party lacked discipline under Rishi Sunak’s leadership. As per the Exit polls, the Labour Party is likely to secure 410 seats in the 650-seat House of Commons.
Notable victories
In his eight election attempt, Nigel Farage, the leader of the Reform UK party, won a seat. Former Labour party leader, Jeremy Corbyn, won Islington North, but as an independent MP. He has represented the constituency 1983 and had led the Labour Party in 2017 and 2019 general elections.