Labour Party has officially won the UK general election, claiming 326 of the 650-seat parliament.
Exit polls had earlier put Labour ahead even before official tally, ending Rishi Sunak’s Conservative Party’s 14-year hold on power in the U.K.
Labor leader Keir Starmer will be the UK’s next prime minister for a five-year term at 10 Downing Street, London unless circumstances warrant new elections before then.
Sunak quickly conceded defeat and said he had called Starmer to congratulate him. Starmer has claimed victory.
Speaking in central London at a victory rally, the next prime minister said, “Change begins now. We said we would end the chaos, and we will. We said we would turn the page, and we have. Today, we start the next chapter, begin the work of change, the mission of national renewal, and start to rebuild our country.“
“It feels good, I have to be honest,” he told the cheering crowd of supporters.
Sunak Concedes
But a subdued Sunak tried to rally his Tory party, which was already swarming in blame-shifting for their electoral loss.
He spoke briefly in a gathering of Torys. “Today, power will change hands in a peaceful and orderly manner, with goodwill on all sides,” Sunak said. “There is much to learn and reflect on, and I take responsibility for losing many good, hardworking Conservative candidates. I am sorry.”
The center-left Labour Party won the majority seat and can form a government without a coalition. It was Tory’s worst performance in the party’s long history, as voters punished them for a cost-of-living crisis, failing public services, and a series of scandals.
Labor, on the other hand, vowed to bring change to Britain.
Challenges For New Labour Government
Despite his convincing victory, polls have suggested little enthusiasm for Starmer or his party. He comes to power at a time when the country is facing a series of daunting challenges.
Britain’s tax burden is set to hit its highest since just after World War II, net debt is almost equivalent to annual economic output, living standards have fallen, and public services are creaking, especially the much-cherished National Health Service, which has been dogged by strikes.
Rishi Sunak of the Conservative Party concede defeat in UK's 🇬🇧July 4 General Election. pic.twitter.com/tydcJqvGTk
— JolibaLive News! (@Jolibalive94010) July 5, 2024
He has already had to scale back some of Labour’s more ambitious plans, such as its flagship green spending pledges, while he has promised not to raise taxes for “working people.”
“I don’t promise you it will be easy,” Starmer said. “Changing a country is not like flicking a switch. It’s hard work. Patient, determined, work, and we must get moving immediately.“
The Rise Of Reform Party
Much of the heavy damage to the Conservative support was inflicted by the right-wing populist Reform UK party, headed by Brexit campaigner Nigel Farage, who had campaigned strongly on curbing immigration.
Within the Conservative Party, recriminations and debate over its future direction began immediately. Some said its failure stemmed from abandoning the center, while others argued Reform had won over voters who felt the party had deserted its roots.
Reform has captured four seats, with Farage himself finally being elected to parliament at his eighth attempt. He also won more votes than the Conservatives across swathes of the country.
“There is a massive gap on the center-right of British politics, and my job is to fill it. That’s exactly what I’m going to do,” a triumphant Farage said. “Believe me, folks, this is just the first step of something that will stun all of you.“
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