The Labour Party, led by Keir Starmer, achieved a historic “supermajority” in the British elections against the Conservative Party led by Rishi Sunak, according to exit polls. This marked the end of 14 years of Conservative rule marked by austerity, Brexit, and chaos under five successive prime ministers. Polls predicted a landslide victory for Starmer comparable to Tony Blair’s win over John Major in 1997.
Early projections suggested that Labour could win up to 410 of the 650 seats, with the Tories getting 131 and the Liberal Democrats coming in as the third political force with 61 seats. The populist leader Nigel Farage’s Reform UK party confirmed its entry into Westminster with 13 deputies. Starmer made significant gains in England and Wales, pushing back the Scottish National Party which experienced its worst results in a decade. The exit polls confirmed the collapse of the Conservative Party, with their lowest number of deputies since 1935 and poor results in London and the south of England.
The first official victory for Labour was Bridget Phillipson’s win in Sunderland, setting the stage for a successful electoral night. Starmer thanked his team and volunteers for their hard work and emphasized the trust people have placed in a changed Labour Party under his leadership. With a focus on stability and economic growth, Starmer prepared to take office on Friday, promising to hit the ground running from day one.
In contrast, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s Conservative Party faced significant challenges leading up to the election. His hasty decision to call early elections was seen as a political miscalculation, and his campaign was marked by chaos and missteps. Sunak struggled to maintain composure, facing criticism and a lack of support even from within his own party. The rise of the Liberal Democrats and Reform UK party further highlighted the Conservative Party’s decline in its historical strongholds.
The election results also saw a decline in support for the Scottish National Party and a rise in support for Reform UK. Overall,